In 2024, you'll have the chance to see 12 full moons, including two supermoons, a blue moon and two lunar eclipses.
Although experienced moon gazers know that the night of the full moon is not the best for observing the lunar surface (even with a good pair of binoculars), the sight of the full moon rising as an orb at dusk is a celestial view that's hard to beat.
Each full moon has a unique name that reflects its agricultural past. But besides the usual collection of full moons in 2024, there will also be two supermoons (when the moon's monthly perigee, or closest point to Earth, coincides with its full phase) and one seasonal blue moon (the third full moon of four occurring between an equinox and a solstice).
However, there will be fewer full moons in 2024 than in 2023. Since the lunar year — 12 orbits of the moon around Earth, each taking 29.5 days — lasts only 354 days, there are often 13 full moons in one solar year. That's exactly what happened in 2023. But with the first full moon of 2024 not rising until late January, the coming year will have only 12.
Old Farmer's Almanac states that the name for January's full moon, the Wolf Moon arises due to the fact it was seen at times of the year when wolves could be howling outside villages as a result of hunger.
The Full Wolf Moon. Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Native American villages. This moon was also known as the Old Moon or the Moon after Yule. In some tribes it was called the Full Snow Moon, but most applied that name to the next moon.
January Moon Names: Man Moon (Taos). Joyful Moon (Hopi). Avunniviayuk (Inuit). Quite Moon (Celtic). Ice Moon (San Juan). Cold Moon (Cherokee). Ice Moon (Neo-Pagan). Flying Ant Moon(Apache). Big Cold Moon (Mohawk). Cooking Moon (Choctaw). Strong Cold Moon (Sioux). Little Winter Moon (Creek). Her Cold Moon (Wishram). Cold Meal Moon (Natchez). Moon After Yule (Cherokee). Wolf Moon (Medieval English). Strong Cold Moon (Cheyenne). Quiet : Dark, Wolf : Full (Janic). Great Spirit Moon (Anishnaabe). Whirling Wind Moon (Passamaquoddy).
Wolf Moon, Old Moon, Winter Moon, Yule Moon (Algonquin).
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Although experienced moon gazers know that the night of the full moon is not the best for observing the lunar surface (even with a good pair of binoculars), the sight of the full moon rising as an orb at dusk is a celestial view that's hard to beat.
Each full moon has a unique name that reflects its agricultural past. But besides the usual collection of full moons in 2024, there will also be two supermoons (when the moon's monthly perigee, or closest point to Earth, coincides with its full phase) and one seasonal blue moon (the third full moon of four occurring between an equinox and a solstice).
However, there will be fewer full moons in 2024 than in 2023. Since the lunar year — 12 orbits of the moon around Earth, each taking 29.5 days — lasts only 354 days, there are often 13 full moons in one solar year. That's exactly what happened in 2023. But with the first full moon of 2024 not rising until late January, the coming year will have only 12.
Old Farmer's Almanac states that the name for January's full moon, the Wolf Moon arises due to the fact it was seen at times of the year when wolves could be howling outside villages as a result of hunger.
The Full Wolf Moon. Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Native American villages. This moon was also known as the Old Moon or the Moon after Yule. In some tribes it was called the Full Snow Moon, but most applied that name to the next moon.
Wolf Moon, Old Moon, Winter Moon, Yule Moon (Algonquin).
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