5 min read · Sky
Every full moon of the year has a traditional name. The names most used in North America today come from a mix of Native American, colonial American, and European traditions, popularized by almanacs. They describe what was happening in nature at that time of year, not anything different about the Moon itself.
The full moon name for each month
January: Wolf Moon, from wolves heard howling in midwinter.
February: Snow Moon, usually the snowiest time of year in much of North America.
March: Worm Moon, as thawing ground brings earthworms and birds back.
April: Pink Moon, named after early spring wildflowers (the Moon is not pink).
May: Flower Moon, when flowers are at their most abundant.
June: Strawberry Moon, the strawberry harvest season.
July: Buck Moon, when male deer grow new antlers.
August: Sturgeon Moon, when sturgeon were easiest to catch in the Great Lakes.
September: Corn Moon, or Harvest Moon when it is the full moon closest to the September equinox.
October: Hunter’s Moon, the full moon after the Harvest Moon.
November: Beaver Moon, when beavers build up their winter dams.
December: Cold Moon, as the long winter nights set in.
Harvest Moon and Hunter’s Moon
These two names are tied to the September equinox rather than to a calendar month. The Harvest Moon is whichever full moon falls closest to the equinox, so in some years it lands in early October. The Hunter’s Moon is simply the next full moon after it.
Around the equinox, the full moon rises only a short time later each evening at mid-northern latitudes, instead of the usual 50 minutes or so. That gave farmers several evenings in a row of bright light right after sunset, which is where the Harvest Moon got its reputation.
Blue moon
A blue moon is an extra full moon. The common modern meaning is the second full moon in one calendar month, which is possible because the cycle of phases (about 29.5 days) is shorter than most months. An older definition calls it the third full moon in an astronomical season that has four. Either way, it happens about every two to three years, and the Moon does not actually look blue.
Supermoon and micromoon
The Moon’s orbit is an ellipse, so its distance from Earth changes through the month. A supermoon is a full moon that happens near the closest point, called perigee. It can look up to about 14% larger and noticeably brighter than a full moon at the farthest point (a micromoon). Side by side the difference is clear; on its own in the sky, most people cannot tell.
Blood moon
A blood moon is a full moon during a total lunar eclipse. Earth blocks direct sunlight, but some sunlight bends through Earth’s atmosphere and reaches the Moon, filtered to orange and red, the same way sunsets are. It is safe to watch with the naked eye.
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