This is when full moons will occur in 2018: |
Date | Name | U.S. East | UTC | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 1 | Wolf Moon | 9:25 PM |
02:25 (1/2) |
This full Moon appeared when wolves howled in hunger outside the villages. It is also known as the Old Moon. To some Native American tribes, this was the Snow Moon, but most applied that name to the next full Moon, in February. Sometimes it was also referred to as the Moon After Yule. |
Jan 31 | Snow Moon | 8:27 AM | 13:27 | A blue moon happens when there are two full moons in one month. The second full moon is known as a "blue moon". They only happen once every few years which is where the term "once in a blue moon" comes from. In years they do happen, they can occur twice in the same year. This type of blue moon is not actually blue in color. Since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month, native tribes of the north and east most often called February's full Moon the Full Snow Moon. Some tribes also referred to this Moon as the Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult. |
Mar 1 | Worm Moon | 07:52 PM |
00:52 (3/2) |
At the time of this spring Moon, the ground begins to soften and earthworm casts reappear, inviting the return of Robins. |
Mar 31 | Sap Moon | 8:37 AM | 13:37 | A blue moon happens when there are two full moons in one month. The second full moon is known as a "blue moon". They only happen once every few years which is where the term "once in a blue moon" comes from. In years they do happen, they can occur twice in the same year. This type of blue moon is not actually blue in color. This is also known as the Sap Moon, as it marks the time when maple sap begins to flow and the annual tapping of maple trees begins. |
Apr 29 | Pink Moon | 8:59 PM |
01:59 (4/30) |
This full Moon heralded the appearance of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox - one of the first spring flowers. It is also known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Fish Moon. |
May 29 | Flower Moon | 10:20 AM | 15:20 | Flowers spring forth in abundance this month. Some Algonquin tribes knew this full Moon as the Corn Planting Moon or the Milk Moon. |
Jun 28 | Strawberry Moon | 12:54 AM | 05:54 | The Algonquin tribes knew this Moon as a time to gather ripening strawberries. It is also known as the Rose Moon and the Hot Moon. |
Jul 27 | Buck Moon | 4:22 PM | 09:22 | At this time, a buck's antlers are in full growth mode. This full Moon was also known as the Thunder Moon, because thunderstorms are so frequent during this month. |
Aug 26 | Sturgeon Moon | 7:58 AM | 12:58 | Some Native American tribes knew that the sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this full Moon. Others called it the Green Corn Moon. |
Sep 24 | Harvest Moon | 10:54 PM |
03:54 (9/25) |
The moonrise comes soon after sunset. This results in an abundance of bright moonlight early in the evening, which was a traditional aide to farmers and crews harvesting their summer-grown crops. October's Moon is also known as the Hunter's Moon, Travel Moon and the Dying Moon. |
Oct 24 | Hunters Moon | 12:47 PM | 17:47 | This first full moon of October is known as the Hunter's moon as this is the time of year when game animals are fattened in preparation for the long winter ahead. Aboriginal people chose this time of year to hunt in earnest, storing up for the winter - they took advantage of the bright full moon to stalk their prey through the night. It is also known as the Blood Moon, Travel Moon and the Dying Moon. |
Nov 23 | Beaver Moon | 12:41 AM | 05:41 | For both the colonists and the Algonquin tribes, this was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. This full Moon was also called the Frost Moon. |
Dec 22 | Cold Moon | 12:50 PM | 17:50 | This is the month when the winter cold fastens its grip and the nights become long and dark. This full Moon is also called the Long Nights Moon by some Native American tribes. |
In the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are switched, the Harvest Moon occurs in March and the Cold Moon is in June. According to Earthsky.org, these are common names for full moons south of the equator. |
Month | Southern Hemisphere Name |
---|---|
January |
Hay Moon, Buck Moon, Thunder Moon, Mead Moon |
February (mid-summer) | Grain Moon, Sturgeon Moon, Red Moon, Wyrt Moon, Corn Moon, Dog Moon, Barley Moon |
March | Harvest Moon, Corn Moon |
April | Harvest Moon, Hunter's Moon, Blood Moon |
May | Hunter's Moon, Beaver Moon, Frost Moon |
June | Oak Moon, Cold Moon, Long Night's Moon |
July | Wolf Moon, Old Moon, Ice Moon |
August | Snow Moon, Storm Moon, Hunger Moon, Wolf Moon |
September | Worm Moon, Lenten Moon, Crow Moon, Sugar Moon, Chaste Moon, Sap Moon |
October | Egg Moon, Fish Moon, Seed Moon, Pink Moon, Waking Moon |
November | Corn Moon, Milk Moon, Flower Moon, Hare Moon |
December | Strawberry Moon, Honey Moon, Rose Moon |