When to watch the full moons of the year
January’s full moon is named after the howling of hungry wolves lamenting the scarcity of food in midwinter. Other names for this month’s full moon include old moon and ice moon.
24 February, Snow Moon
February’s typically cold, snowy weather in North America earned its full moon the name snow moon. Storm moon and hunger moon are other common names.
25 March, Worm Moon
Native Americans called this last full moon of winter the worm moon after the worm trails that would appear in the newly thawed ground. Other names include chaste moon, death moon, crust moon and sap moon, after the tapping of the maple trees.
Northern Native Americans call April’s full moon the pink moon after a species of early blooming wildflower. In other cultures, this moon is called the sprouting grass moon, the egg moon, and the fish moon.
23 May, Flower Moon
Many cultures refer to May’s full moon as the flower moon thanks to the abundant blooming that occurs as spring gets going properly. Other names include the hare moon, the corn planting moon, and the milk moon.
22 June, Strawberry Moon
In North America, the harvesting of strawberries in June gives that month’s full moon its name. Europeans have dubbed it the rose moon, while other cultures named it the hot moon for the beginning of the summer heat.
Male deer, which shed their antlers every year, begin to regrow them in July, hence the Native American name for July’s full moon. Some refer to this moon as the thunder moon, due to the summer storms in this month. Other names include the hay moon, after the July hay harvest.
19 August, Sturgeon Moon
North American fishing tribes called August’s full moon the sturgeon moon since the species appeared in number during this month. It’s also been called the green corn moon, the grain moon, and the red moon for the reddish hue it often takes on in the summer haze.
18 September, Harvest Moon
At this time, the Moon appears particularly bright and rises early, letting farmers continue harvesting into the night.
Like the harvest moon, the hunter’s moon is also particularly bright and long in the sky, giving hunters the opportunity to stalk prey at night.
15 November, Beaver Moon
There is disagreement over the origin of November’s beaver moon name. Some say it comes from Native Americans setting beaver traps during this month, while others say the name comes from the heavy activity of beavers building their winter dams. Another name is the frost moon.
15 December, Cold Moon
The coming of winter earned December’s full moon the name cold moon.
Discover a Dark Sky Site: Break free from the glow of city lights by choosing a location that is distant from urban areas. This will optimize visibility and offer a more distinct perspective of the moon’s intricacies.
Utilize Binoculars or a Telescope
While the unaided eye captures a splendid sight, employing binoculars or a telescope allows for a more intimate examination of the moon’s craters and surface characteristics.
Maintain a Celestial Diary
Chronicle your observations, recording distinctive features and the emotions stirred by the celestial encounter. Gradually, this journal will evolve into a personalized account of your celestial exploration.