When to see the Full Moon and phases

The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is precisely sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures the entire side of the Moon that faces us gleams under sunlight. Thanks to the Moon’s orbit around Earth, the angle of sunlight hitting the lunar surface and being reflected back to our planet changes. That creates different lunar phases.

The next Full Moon in 2024 is at 10:34 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Sept. 17, and is called the Corn Moon. For much of the world, it will also bring a partial lunar eclipse.

We’ll update this article multiple times each week with the latest moonrise, moonset, Full Moon schedule, and some of what you can see in the sky each week.

Here’s the complete list of Full Moons this year and their traditional names.

2024 Full Moon schedule and names of each

(all times Eastern)

Jan. 25 — 12:54 p.m. — Wolf Moon
Feb. 24 —7:30 a.m. — Snow Moon
March 25 — 3 a.m. — Worm Moon
April 23 — 7:49 p.m. — Pink Moon
May 23 — 9:53 a.m. — Flower Moon
Friday, June 21 — 9:08 p.m. — Strawberry Moon
Sunday, July 21 — 6:17 a.m. — Buck Moon
Monday, Aug. 19 — 2:26 p.m. — Sturgeon Moon
Tuesday, Sept. 17 — 10:34 p.m. — Corn Moon
Thursday, Oct. 17 — 7:26 a.m. — Hunter’s Moon
Friday, Nov. 15 — 4:28 p.m. — Beaver Moon
Sunday, Dec. 15 — 4:02 a.m. — Cold Moon

The phases of the Moon in August 2024

The images below show the day-by-day phases of the Moon in August. The Full Moon this month is Monday, Aug. 19.

The moonrise and moonset schedule this week

The following is adapted from Alison Klesman’s The Sky This Week column. Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 12 P.M. local time from the same location.

Tuesday, August 20

The Moon passes 0.5° — half the Full Moon’s width — north of the Saturn at 11 P.M. EDT. Check out the pairing in Aquarius with binoculars or a low-powered telescope, as the planet’s light might be largely washed out by the Moon when trying to observe unaided. Because it is so close, the Moon appears to move quickly through our sky — observe the pair over the course of a few hours to watch our satellite pull away more and more from the planet.

Sunrise: 6:17 A.M.
Sunset: 7:49 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:38 P.M.
Moonset: 7:08 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (99%)

Wednesday, August 21

The Moon reaches perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit, at 1:02 A.M. EDT. At that time, our satellite will be 223,815 miles (360,195 km) away.

Now in Pisces, the Moon passes 0.7° north of Neptune at 6 P.M. EDT, though neither is visible at that time. You’ll have to wait until late this evening to try to catch them, hanging below the Circlet of Pisces and rising around 9 P.M. local daylight time. In fact, you’ll want to wait even longer to give the region time to rise out of the turbulent air near the horizon, so aim to observe around or even after local midnight. By then, the Moon is some 4° to 5° from Neptune, which will improve your chances of spotting the faint planet, though it might still be a challenge.

Sunrise: 6:18 A.M.
Sunset: 7:48 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:04 P.M.
Moonset: 8:26 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (95%)

Thursday, August 22

Sunrise: 6:19 A.M.
Sunset: 7:46 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:29 P.M.
Moonset: 9:43 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (88%)

Friday, August 23

Sunrise: 6:20 A.M.
Sunset: 7:45 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:56 P.M.
Moonset: 10:59 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (79%)

The phases of the Moon

The phases of the Moon are: New Moon, waxing crescent, First Quarter, waxing gibbous, Full Moon, waning gibbous, Last Quarter, and waning crescent. A cycle starting from one Full Moon to its next counterpart, termed the synodic month or lunar month, lasts about 29.5 days.

Though a Full Moon only occurs during the exact moment when Earth, Moon, and Sun form a perfect alignment, to our eyes, the Moon seems Full for around three days.

RELATED: 20 things to see on the Moon

Different names for different types of Full Moon

There are a wide variety of specialized names used to identify distinct types or timings of Full Moons. These names primarily trace back to a blend of cultural, agricultural, and natural observations about the Moon, aimed at allowing humans to not only predict seasonal changes, but also track the passage of time.

For instance, almost every month’s Full Moon boasts a name sourced from Native American, Colonial American, or other North American traditions, with their titles mirroring seasonal shifts and nature’s events.

Wolf Moon (January): Inspired by the cries of hungry wolves.

Snow Moon (February): A nod to the month’s often heavy snowfall.

Worm Moon (March): Named after the earthworms that signal thawing grounds.

Pink Moon (April): In honor of the blossoming pink wildflowers.

Flower Moon (May): Celebrating the bloom of flowers.

Strawberry Moon (June): Marks the prime strawberry harvest season.

Buck Moon (July): Recognizing the new antlers on bucks.

Sturgeon Moon (August): Named after the abundant sturgeon fish.

Corn Moon (September): Signifying the corn harvesting period.

Hunter’s Moon (October): Commemorating the hunting season preceding winter.

Beaver Moon (November): Reflects the time when beavers are busy building their winter dams.

Cold Moon (December): Evocative of winter’s chill.

In addition, there are a few additional names for Full Moons that commonly make their way into public conversations and news.

Super Moon: This term is reserved for a Full Moon that aligns with the lunar perigee, which is the Moon’s nearest point to Earth in its orbit. This proximity renders the Full Moon unusually large and luminous. For a Full Moon to earn the Super Moon tag, it should be within approximately 90 percent of its closest distance to Earth.

Blue Moon: A Blue Moon is the second Full Moon in a month that experiences two Full Moons. This phenomenon graces our skies roughly every 2.7 years. Though the term suggests a color, Blue Moons aren’t truly blue. Very occasionally, atmospheric conditions such as recent volcanic eruptions might lend the Moon a slightly blueish tint, but this hue isn’t tied to the term.

Harvest Moon: Occurring closest to the autumnal equinox, typically in September, the Harvest Moon is often renowned for a distinct orange tint it might display. This Full Moon rises close to sunset and sets near sunrise, providing extended hours of bright moonlight. Historically, this was invaluable to farmers gathering their produce.

Common questions about Full Moons

What is the difference between a Full Moon and a New Moon? A Full Moon is witnessed when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, making the entire Moon’s face visible. Conversely, during a New Moon, the Moon lies between Earth and the Sun, shrouding its Earth-facing side in darkness.

How does the Full Moon influence tides? The Moon’s gravitational tug causes Earth’s waters to bulge, birthing tides. During both Full and New Moons, the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in alignment, generating “spring tides.” These tides can swing exceptionally high or low due to the combined gravitational influences of the Sun and Moon.

Here are the dates for all the lunar phases in 2024:

New	First Quarter	Full	Last Quarter
			Jan. 3
Jan. 11	Jan. 17	Jan. 25	Feb. 2
Feb. 9	Feb. 16	Feb. 24	March 3
March 10	March 17	March 25	April 1
April 8	April 15	April 23	May 1
May 7	May 15	May 23	May 30
June 6	June 14	June 21	June 28
July 5	July 13	July 21	July 27
Aug. 4	Aug. 12	Aug. 19	Aug 26
Sept. 2	Sept. 11	Sept. 17	Sept. 24
Oct. 2	Oct. 10	Oct. 17	Oct. 24
Nov. 1	Nov. 9	Nov. 15	Nov. 22
Dec. 1	Dec. 8	Dec. 15	Dec. 22
Dec. 30