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In pictures: Clear skies offer great view of Worm Moon

John England Worm Moon over Beeston, NottinghamshireJohn England
John England captured the full Moon over Beeston, Nottinghamshire, at about 21:00 GMT on Thursday

Photographers across the East Midlands have been capturing March's full Moon - known as the Worm Moon.

The name relates to earthworms beginning to emerge as the soil starts to warm up in spring.

It is also known as the "Crust Moon", the "Crow Comes Back Moon" and the "Sore Eyes Moon".

Janis Phillips Full worm Moon in Exton, RutlandJanis Phillips
BBC Weather Watcher Janis Phillips captured the Worm Moon in Exton, Rutland

The Worm Moon was beautifully illuminated in clear skies on Thursday evening and into the early hours of Friday.

John England, captured it over Beeston, Nottinghamshire, once the mist settled on a "very cold evening".

"The Moon was so bright," he said. "It was just absolutely stunning to see.

"You could see the details of the craters, especially near the crust.

"But I was gutted not to see the ring around the Moon earlier in the evening."

The 52-year-old, who used a mobile phone but also has a telescope, said he had been fascinated by the sky after being inspired as a child by astronomer Sir Patrick Moore.

Mr England said he had been taking pictures of the Moon since his early 20s, adding it was his "favourite celestial".

Jojen Worm Moon over Elton, DerbyshireJojen
March's full Moon was also snapped in Elton, Derbyshire, by BBC Weather Watcher Jojen
LindafromBelper Worm Moon over Belper, DerbyshireLindafromBelper
Another BBC Weather Watcher LindafromBelper enjoyed snapping the Moon from her home in Derbyshire
tracey1978tails Worm Moon over Overseal, Derbyshiretracey1978tails
Tracey1978tails - also a BBC Weather Watcher - saw the Worm Moon beautifully illuminated over Overseal, Derbyshire
Smiley-Sue Worm Moon over Chellaston, DerbyshireSmiley-Sue
Here is how the Moon looked from Chellaston in Derby

According to the National Space Centre in Leicester, full Moons happen roughly every 29.5 days, when the Moon is located on the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun and so appears fully illuminated.

The next full Moon will be the "Pink Moon" on 16 April.

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