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EventsThe full Wolf Moon rises on Friday, January 6, 2023. Learn more about when and where to howl at the January full Moon! When to See January’s Full MoonJanuary’s full Wolf Moon reaches peak illumination on Friday, January 6, at 6:09 P.M. EST. Look for the Moon to rise from the northeastern horizon around sunset that evening. Consult our Moonrise Calculator to see what time you can expect to catch a glimpse of the first full Moon of 2023! January MicromoonJanuary’s full Moon is a “Micromoon” this year. Think of this term as the opposite of a “Supermoon.” It simply means that the full Moon is at its farthest point from Earth (not the nearest point). In astronomical terms, we call this “apogee.” Specifically, January’s Micro full Moon is about 252,600 miles from Earth. Why is the Moon nearer or farther (in this instance) from Earth? Simple: The Moon orbits Earth in an elliptical path. One side is nearer to Earth and one side is farther. This distance does affect the Moon’s size and brightness, although it’s probably not that visible to the naked eye. The perceived size of the Moon from Earth is more related to the “Moon Illusion” and how close the Moon appears to the horizon; in this case, it’s high above the horizon so it may not appear to loom over us the way it appears when it’s near the horizon. Look up at the full Moon on the 6th (or a day earlier or later)! What do you think?
Why Is It Called the Full Wolf Moon?The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not just to the full Moon itself. The Wolf MoonIt’s thought that January’s full Moon came to be known as the Wolf Moon because wolves were more likely to be heard howling at this time. It was traditionally believed that wolves howled due to hunger during winter, but we know today that wolves howl for different reasons. Howling and other wolf vocalizations are generally used to define territory, locate pack members, reinforce social bonds, and coordinate hunting.  Alternative January Moon NamesAnother fitting name for this full Moon is the Center Moon. Used by the Assiniboine people of the Northern Great Plains, it refers to the idea that this Moon roughly marks the middle of the cold season. Other traditional names for the January Moon emphasize the harsh coldness of the season: Cold Moon (Cree), Frost Exploding Moon (Cree), Freeze Up Moon (Algonquin), and Severe Moon (Dakota). Hard Moon (Dakota) highlights the phenomenon of the fallen snow developing a hard crust. Canada Goose Moon (Tlingit), Great Moon (Cree), Greetings Moon (Western Abenaki), and Spirit Moon (Ojibwe) have also been recorded as Moon names for this month. → See all 12 months of Full Moon names and their meanings. Moon Phases for January 2023Below are the dates and times (in Eastern Time) of the Moon’s phases in December. See our Moon Phase Calendar for times in your city/state. January Moon Phase Dates and Times
→ When is the next full Moon? See our Full Moon Dates chart. January Full Wolf Moon VideoEach month, we will explain the traditional names of the full Moon along with some fascinating Moon facts. In this video, learn about January’s full Wolf Moon. Click below to watch the video. Best Days in January 2023For Planting… …Aboveground crops: 5, 24, 25 For Setting Eggs 3, 4, 12, 13, 30, 31 For Fishing 1–6, 21–31 → See all our Best Days for various activities. Moon FolkloreA bright first Moon promises rain and a bountiful harvest; a red-tinted Moon means a dry year. A growing Moon and a flowing tide are lucky times to marry. A halo around the Moon predicts wet or stormy weather. Share your thoughts about this month’s full Moons below. Tell us if we’re missing anything that you would like to know! What is the moon phase for January 2023?Full Moon: January 6, 6:09 P.M.
Last Quarter: January 14, 9:13 P.M. New Moon: January 21, 3:55 P.M. First Quarter: January 28, 10:20 A.M.
Is January 15th 2022 a Full Moon?The full moon of January, called the Wolf Moon, will occur Monday, Jan. 17, at 6:48 p.m. EST (1148 GMT), according to NASA (opens in new tab).
What are the dates of the full moons in 2023?Here are the dates of the 2023 Full Moons:. January 6, 2023 (Full Wolf Moon) ... . February 5, 2023 (Full Snow Moon) ... . March 7, 2023 (Full Worm Moon) ... . April 6, 2023 (Full Pink Moon) ... . May 5, 2023 (Full Flower Moon) ... . June 3, 2023 (Full Strawberry Moon) ... . July 3, 2023 (Full Buck Moon) ... . August 1, 2023 (Full Sturgeon Moon). What was the phase of the moon on January 15 2022?On this day the Moon was in a Waxing Gibbous phase. This phase is when the moon is more than 50% illuminated but not yet a Full Moon. The phase lasts about 7 days with the moon becoming more illuminated each day until the Full Moon.
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