A man walks with his camel during the Partial Lunar Eclipse in Van, Turkey on August 7, 2017. (Photo ... [+]
Love the full moon? One of the most dramatic and underrated sights in nature, the rising of a full moon in the east each month is always worth being outside for. Rising opposite the sunset, high in the sky around midnight and setting opposite the sunrise, in 2023 there’s a bonus for moongazers because there are not 12, but 13 full Moons to see.
Add a couple of lunar eclipses and four so-called “supermoons” and it promises to be another great year for moon-watching. Here are all the dates of the 13 full moons in 2023 including what’s special about each one:
1. ‘Wolf Moon’ hangs high in the sky
When: 23:08 UTC, Friday, January 6, 2023
The first full moon of winter in the northern hemisphere, the “Wolf Moon” may have a terrible name, but since it’s the closest to the December solstice—when the sun is at its lowest—it’s the highest full moon of the year in the northern hemisphere. Since the “Wolf Moon” will take a higher, more northerly trajectory across the night sky because it is opposite to a low sun it will be above the horizon longer than at other times of the year and pass as close to the zenith (the point in the sky directly overhead) as it ever does. It will be best seen at moonrise on Saturday, January 7, 2023.
2. ‘Snow Moon’
When: 18:29 UTC, Sunday, February 5, 2023
The second full Moon of winter in the northern hemisphere, the aptly-named “Snow Moon” will be best seen at moonrise on the evening of Sunday, February 5.
3. ‘Worm Moon’
When: 12:40 UTC, Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Moonrise on the evening of Tuesday, March 7, 2023 is when to get outside and see the third and final full Moon of winter in the northern hemisphere.
4. ‘Pink Moon’
When: 12:40 UTC, Thursday, April 6, 2023
Named after the blooming of wild ground phlox flowers, the first full Moon of spring in the northern hemisphere will appear on the horizon just after sunset on Thursday, April 6.
5. ‘Flower Moon Eclipse’
When: 17:34 UTC, Friday, May 5, 2023
The second full Moon of spring in the northern hemisphere will be eclipsed by the Earth. A faint penumbral lunar eclipse will see the full Moon drift into the Earth’s fuzzy outer shadow, though only for those in Asia and Australia. For everyone else the best time to view it will be moonrise on Friday, May 5, 2023.
This photograph shows a full moon during the peak of the penumbral eclipse seen from Pakistan's ... [+]
6. ‘Strawberry Moon’ is low-hanging fruit
When: 03:42 UTC, Saturday, June 3, 2023
The third and final full Moon of spring in the northern hemisphere, the “Strawberry Moon” will appear on the eastern horizon draped in orange hues most vividly on the evening of Saturday, June 3, 2023. For the northern hemisphere this will be the lowest-hanging full moon of the year simply because it’s opposite the highest-hanging sun.
7. ‘Buck Supermoon’
When: 1:39 UTC, Monday, July 3, 2023
The first full Moon of summer in the northern hemisphere, the “Buck Moon” will also be the first of four supermoons in 2023, albeit the farthest from Earth at 361,934 km. Best viewed at moonrise on Sunday, July 2, 2023 just before it turns 100% full.
8. ‘Sturgeon Supermoon’
When: 1:39 UTC on Tuesday, August 1, 2023
The second full Moon of summer in the northern hemisphere, the “Sturgeon Moon” is a supermoon, turning full while 357,530 km from Earth. That’s only slightly farther away than next month’s closest full Moon, so the “Sturgeon Moon” will be very big and very bright. It will look its best at moonrise on two successive evenings, Monday, July 31 and Tuesday, August 1.
9. ‘Blue Supermoon’–the biggest and brightest of the year
When: 01:35 UTC on Wednesday, August 30, 2023
The third and final full Moon of summer in the northern hemisphere. It’s called a “Blue Moon” because it’s the second full moon in a calendar month, something that is bound to happen every few years because the Moon takes 29 days to orbit the Earth. It’s also the closest full Moon to Earth—so the year’s best “supermoon.” It will turn full while 357,344 km from Earth and be the biggest, brightest full Moon of the year. It will look its best at moonrise on two successive evenings, Wednesday, August 30 and Thursday, August 31.
FREMANTLE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: Crowds look on as the super moon rises behind the Fremantle War ... [+]
10. ‘Harvest Supermoon’
When: 09:57 UTC on Friday, September 29, 2023
The first full Moon of fall in the northern hemisphere will occur just six days after the fall equinox on September 23. Turning full while 361,552 km from Earth, this full Moon is also technically a “supermoon”—the final such Moon of 2023. It will be best viewed at moonrise in the east on Friday, September 29.
11. ‘Hunter’s Moon Eclipse’ close to Halloween
When: 20:24 UTC on Saturday, October 28, 2023
The second full Moon of fall in the northern hemisphere will also be eclipsed by the Earth. It’s going to be a partial lunar eclipse, with a slither of the moon slipping into the Earth’s central shadow. It could look quite odd to those able to see it—this time in Europe, Africa and Asia. For everyone else the best time to view it will be at moonrise on Saturday, October 28.
12. ‘Beaver Moon’
When: 09:16 UTC on Monday, November 27, 2023
The third and final full Moon of fall in the northern hemisphere, the “Beaver Moon”—also called the “Mourning Moon” and “Cold Moon”—will be best seen at moonrise on MOnday, November 27.
13. ‘Christmas Cold Moon’
When: 00:33 UTC on Tuesday, December 26, 2023
The first full Moon of winter in the northern hemisphere, the aptly-named “Cold Moon” will occur on Boxing Day and just five days after the winter solstice. Also called the “Long Nights Moon” in North America and, since it occurs just after Christmas Day, the “Moon After Yule” in Europe, it will be best viewed at moonrise on the evening of Tuesday, December 26.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
