You better go out tonight. There’s a wolf moon on the rise. Forgive us for the Creedence Clearwater Revival pun. But January will see the rise of the year’s first full moon, also known as the Wolf Moon. Here’s everything you need to know to see our satellite in its full spectacle.
Everything You Need to Know About the Wolf Moon
This month’s full moon will be on Jan. 28. Sadly, residents in the U.S. won’t be able to view a true full moon. Earth’s satellite is only technically full at 7: 16 p.m. UTC or 2:16 p.m. EST. Since it will be daylight, Americans won’t be able to view it at this time.
Fortunately, the moon will look full to most observers during a day or two previous and following this date. For the best view, we recommend you go somewhere without overcast. Additionally, grab your best pair of binoculars or telescope. The moon will be most visible for many at dusk.
A Moon of Many Names
Don’t expect a giant wolf to appear or anything ominous like that. The January moon gets its title from the Algonquin tribes in the northeast part of the U.S. These tribes observed that wolves were more likely to howl at the moon during the depths of winter in January.
This full moon actually has many names, so choose the one that you like the best. You can entertain your loved ones with this random moon fact while they try to figure out why you dragged them on the roof in the cold to look at the stars. One name for the moon in January is Ice Moon, fitting the arctic nature of its month. If you’re feeling creative, try some of these alternative names as well. Most have to do with the chilly weather of January. There’s Cold Moon (how creative), Frost Exploding Moon (because everyone wants their moon exploding obviously), and Severe Moon.
There’s also Center Moon because January is the middle of winter, not because the moon will be center of the sky.
