An ultra-rare Super Worm Moon has risen into horizons across the world tonight to coincide with the spring equinox

An ultra-rare Super Worm Moon has risen into horizons across the world tonight to coincide with the spring equinox.

The Worm Moon is the first full moon in the month of March and this is the first time since 1905 this has coincided with the start of spring on March 20.

Skygazers in Cumbria were also treated to a ‘moonbow’ – a lunar rainbow that took place during the event.

It was spotted by BBC weather presenter Simon King, who described it as a ‘rare’ optical phenomenons are much fainter but the brightness of the night meant that the colours could be seen clearly.  

A rare lunar rainbow -  dubbed a 'moonbow' has been photographed over Cumbria during the super worm moon. The phenomenon was captured late on Wednesday above Alston in Cumbria

A rare lunar rainbow –  dubbed a ‘moonbow’ has been photographed over Cumbria during the super worm moon. The phenomenon was captured late on Wednesday above Alston in Cumbria

BBC weather presenter Simon King described it as a "rare and amazing colourful moonbow". He said normally moonbows are much fainter and seen as white but the extra brightness of Wednesday's moon meant colours could be seen

BBC weather presenter Simon King described it as a ‘rare and amazing colourful moonbow’.

He said normally moonbows are much fainter and seen as white but the extra brightness of Wednesday’s moon meant colours could be seen

‘With last night’s full moon also being a supermoon it was much brighter than a normal full moon,’ he said.

For many this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to get outside and see this unique moon, as the next such moon is not expected to grace our skies until 2044.

The supermoon is also dawning around the same time that an asteroid is passing by the Earth’s surface. 

It is called a ‘Worm Moon’ after the Native Americans’ seasonal observations that worms emerge from the earth as spring begins. 

The Worm Moon has also been referred to as the Crow Moon, Crust Moon, Sap Moon or Sugar Moon.

A view of the Full Worm Supermoon that announces the start of the spring over the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia this evening, taking on a stunning reddish hue in the dusk above the Spanish city

A view of the Full Worm Supermoon that announces the start of the spring over the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia this evening, taking on a stunning reddish hue in the dusk above the Spanish city

The Full Worm Supermoon dawns over the ornamental silhouettes of the Beatles, from the film Help, on Penny Lane in Liverpool

The Full Worm Supermoon dawns over the ornamental silhouettes of the Beatles, from the film Help, on Penny Lane in Liverpool

A lookout tower, left, and the broadcast tower of Antenna Hungaria at the top of Karancs mountain are backdropped by the rising supermoon as seen from the vicinity of Karancskeszi village, Hungary

A lookout tower, left, and the broadcast tower of Antenna Hungaria at the top of Karancs mountain are backdropped by the rising supermoon as seen from the vicinity of Karancskeszi village, Hungary

The gorgeous supermoon rises into the skyline over the Statue of Liberty in New York on Wednesday evening, as people around the world enjoyed the chance to see the ultra-rare moon

The gorgeous supermoon rises into the skyline over the Statue of Liberty in New York on Wednesday evening, as people around the world enjoyed the chance to see the ultra-rare moon

A plane passes in front of the Super Worm Moon reaching its peak on the first day of spring over Frankfurt in Germany which was blessed with clear skies so stargazers could see the hulking moon in all its radiant glory

A plane passes in front of the Super Worm Moon reaching its peak on the first day of spring over Frankfurt in Germany which was blessed with clear skies so stargazers could see the hulking moon in all its radiant glory

The Moon can be seen glowing red through the clouds over the Manhattan skyline, with One World Trade Center in the distance with the photographer standing in New Jersey

The Moon can be seen glowing red through the clouds over the Manhattan skyline, with One World Trade Center in the distance with the photographer standing in New Jersey

A sculpture is silhouetted against a bright cloudy sky in Brussels, Belgium, tonight - the term supermoon was first introduced by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 and specifically refers to a brighter than usual full moon

A sculpture is silhouetted against a bright cloudy sky in Brussels, Belgium, tonight – the term supermoon was first introduced by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 and specifically refers to a brighter than usual full moon

The Moon should be at its fullest and kmspico 51.52 brightest after midnight on Thursday morning at 1:43am GMT. 

The event follows January’s ‘Super Blood Wolf Moon’ and February’s ‘Super Snow Moon’ and will be the last supermoon this year. 

The term supermoon was first introduced by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 and specifically refers to a brighter than usual full moon.