Dr. Alison Roxburgh, Physics professor at Spoon River College, is hosting an Astronomy Night pop-up event at Farmington Public Library on Tuesday, March 3, from 6:30-8 p.m. The free event is open to the public, and attendees may come and go at any time.
“The main focus of the viewing will be the March full moon, which is called the Worm Moon,” said Roxburgh. “I hope this is just the first of many astronomy pop-up events I can offer in our communities.”
Roxburgh is a volunteer with the outreach group #popscope, who is co-sponsoring the event along with Spoon River College.
The name of the March moon is thought to reflect the time of year when the ground warms and softens enough for earthworms to emerge, or when tree bark thaws enough to let worm-like beetle larvae escape and mature.
While it won’t be visible during the time of the event, a total lunar eclipse will occur in the early morning hours of March 3, turning the moon a deep red-orange color as the Earth passes directly between the sun and moon.
The Farmington Library is located at 411 Lightfoot Road.