The moon controls the tides, our moods and even our periods, so it's good to keep an eye on what's going on above our heads from time to time. This weekend's moon could even be a winner for your Instagram feed, as Friday night's unmissable skies will showcase a snow moon, lunar eclipse and an actual COMET all on the same night.
And with all good things coming in threes, we reckon setting time aside for this lunar event could even bring you some luck from the cosmos.
Here's everything you need to know about this Friday's celestial showcase.
Will the snow moon bring snow?
Not exactly. The snow moon is just another name for February's full moon, as it's usually the snowiest month of the year in America. Native American tribes would also refer to it as the Hunger Moon, as hunting was difficult in snowy conditions. So basically, if you're going moon-gazing, remember to bring snacks.
The moon's gonna be (low) lit
This isn't going to be a horror film-esque situation where an eclipse means darkness taking hold and zombies roaming the streets. The next *total *solar eclipse we'll be able to see from the UK will be in 2090, where everything will go cold for about two and a half minutes (that is if you're still alive and warm). No, Friday's lunar eclipse will be a penumbral eclipse, when the Earth passes between the moon and sun, blocking the sun's light and creating subtle shadows on the moon. Friday night's skies will basically look like someone's turned down the dimmer switch on the moon, which, so close to Valentine's Day, is kind of romantic. The moon affects relationships, don't'cha know.
There's a comet approaching (but we're all going to be OK)
Comet. A former British high street shop that sold low-price TVs, one of my favourite emojis, and coming to a sky near you this Friday. This year the New Year Comet will make its closest appearance to Earth since 2011. Us humans can see it every five and a quarter years, and it's been spotted across the world many times since December, including over the New Year. It's guaranteed to light up the sky at around midnight on Friday night (that's Friday going into Saturday), providing the sky is clear enough. A pair of binoculars might come in handy, but if you haven't got any lying around, maybe try zooming in and watching it through your phone camera? Or maybe not. Of course, if you miss it, you could just wait to see the photos on Twitter the next morning, or hold out for the next one, which will be here in 2022.
Here are the alarms you'll need to set
The snow moon will rise at 4:44pm on Friday, which tbh, you don't really need to set an alarm for because a) it's an easy number to remember and b) it'll be there all night. The eclipse starts at 10:34pm, but the best time to see it will be at **0:44am. **The comet should be shooting across the sky sometime around midnight - look out for its 'blue-green head and fan-shaped tail'. **
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For all your stargazers out there, your weekend plans should really work around these three astronomical events taking place from Friday night through to Saturday morning. If you're not as bothered and would rather stay inside in the warm - we don't blame you - but still reckon the view from your window will be worth it.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.