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Photos: February's 'Snow Moon' rises full and bright

The moon rises on Tuesday behind people standing on The Edge, the outdoor observation deck in Manhattan.
Tayfun Coskun
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Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The moon rises on Tuesday behind people standing on The Edge, the outdoor observation deck in Manhattan.

Today is a good day to look up.

There's a full moon on Wednesday, and according to NASA, February's full moon has many names: The Snow Moon. The Storm Moon. The Hunger Moon.

AIANTA, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, gathered names used by tribes for the moons of the year. Among the names for February's moon: Suckerfish Moon, First Flower Moon, Midwinter Moon, and Little Sister of the Waning Moon.

The full moon sets over the Bosphorus in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Emrah Gurel / AP
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AP
The full moon sets over the Bosphorus in Istanbul on Wednesday.

While you're sky-gazing, look to the western horizon. Jupiter will be setting there as evening twilight ends.

The full moon rises above strings of lights at the Olympic Green during the 2022 Winter Olympics on Wednesday in Beijing.
Chris Carlson / AP
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AP
The full moon rises above strings of lights at the Olympic Green during the 2022 Winter Olympics on Wednesday in Beijing.

The moon should still appear full until about midnight ET on Thursday, NASA says. And if you notice a bright star near the moon, that's Regulus – the brightest star in the Leo constellation.

For the exact times the moon will rise and set where you live, you can type in your city here.

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

The moon appears over the Hagia Sophia and Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul on Tuesday.
Isa Terli / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
/
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The moon appears over the Hagia Sophia and Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul on Tuesday.

Laurel Wamsley is a reporter for NPR's News Desk. She reports breaking news for NPR's digital coverage, newscasts, and news magazines, as well as occasional features. She was also the lead reporter for NPR's coverage of the 2019 Women's World Cup in France.