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 will be the Worm Moon, which occurs at 2:55 a.m. on Friday, March 14, 2025.
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.
2025 Full Moon schedule and names of each
(All times Eastern; * denotes a Super Moon.)
- Monday, Jan. 13 — 5:27 p.m. — Wolf Moon
- Wednesday, Feb. 12 — 8:53 a.m. — Snow Moon
- Friday, March 14 — 2:55 a.m. — Worm Moon
- Saturday, April 12 — 8:22 p.m. — Pink Moon
- Monday, May 12 — 12:56 p.m. — Flower Moon
- Wednesday, June 11 — 3:44 a.m. — Strawberry Moon
- Thursday, July 10 — 4:37 p.m. — Buck Moon
- Saturday, Aug. 9 — 3:55 a.m. — Sturgeon Moon
- Sunday, Sept. 7 — 2:09 p.m. — Corn Moon
- Monday, Oct. 6 — 11:48 p.m. — Hunter’s Moon*
- Wednesday, Nov. 5 — 8:19 a.m. — Beaver Moon*
- Thursday, Dec. 4 — 6:14 p.m. — Cold Moon*
The phases of the Moon in February 2025
The images below show the day-by-day phases of the Moon in February. The Full Moon this month was Wednesday, Feb. 12.
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.
Friday, February 28
The Moon passes 0.4° south of Mercury at 11 P.M. EST. Catch them in the early-evening sky, as the razor-thin crescent stands between Saturn and Mercury just after sunset.
Look west shortly after sunset; half an hour after the Sun sinks below the horizon, Saturn is a mere 2.5° high. To see it, you’ll need a very clear western horizon and likely binoculars or a small telescope. Just above it, the Moon is still 1 percent lit, showing off the thinnest crescent. The Moon is just under a day old, and keen-eyed observers may spot what Contributing Editor Stephen James O’Meara calls the lunar blackdrop effect, when the illuminated crescent appears to have dark stripes running through it. This is likely due to a combination of diffraction of the Moon’s image through our own atmosphere, as well as the way light and shadow play off each other on the illuminated lunar limb.
Just above the Moon is Mercury, about 8.5° above the horizon 30 minutes after sunset and still shining at magnitude –1.1. The trio is watched over by blazingly bright Venus far above, offering a gaggle of subjects for astrophotographers — as long as you’re quick. Saturn sets about 40 minutes after the Sun, the Moon about an hour after the Sun, and Mercury 20 minutes after that.
Sunrise: 6:34 A.M.
Sunset: 5:51 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:01 A.M.
Moonset: 6:55 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (1%)
Saturday, March 1
The Moon moves into Pisces this morning and passes 1.6° north of Neptune at 4 A.M. EST. By 6 P.M. EST, our satellite then passes 6° south of Venus. The Moon also reaches perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit, at 4:21 P.M. EST. Out satellite will then sit 224,914 miles (361,964 kilometers) away.
The now-6-percent-illuminated crescent Moon lies to Venus’ lower left in the evening sky as the two slowly sink in the west after sunset. Below them, Mercury is fainter than Venus but still quite bright and obvious to the naked eye; to capture Neptune, you’ll need binoculars or a telescope. The distant ice giant is magnitude 7.8 and sits 2° southeast (to the upper left) of Mercury tonight.
Sunrise: 6:33 A.M.
Sunset: 5:52 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:26 A.M.
Moonset: 8:11 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (4%)
Sunday, March 2
Sunrise: 6:31 A.M.
Sunset: 5:54 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:51 A.M.
Moonset: 9:28 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (10%)
Monday, March 3
Sunrise: 6:30 A.M.
Sunset: 5:55 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:18 A.M.
Moonset: 10:46 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (19%)
Tuesday, March 4
The Moon passes 5° north of Uranus at 11 P.M. EST, but if you want to view the pairing, you’re better off observing earlier in the evening, when it is higher in the sky.
The Moon is now in Aries and Uranus is just over the border in far western Taurus. At magnitude 5.8, the faint planet is just at the edge of naked-eye visibility but will show up easily with a telescope or even binoculars. Wait until dark and find the waxing crescent Moon, sitting near a curve of stars in eastern Aries. Uranus is some 4.5° to the Moon’s left.
Sunrise: 6:28 A.M.
Sunset: 5:56 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:50 A.M.
Moonset: —
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (29%)
Wednesday, March 5
The waxing Moon now sits between Jupiter and Pleiades, gracing the northwestern corner of Taurus.
Sunrise: 6:26 A.M.
Sunset: 5:57 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:28 A.M.
Moonset: 12:04 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (40%)
Thursday, March 6
The Moon passes 6° north of Jupiter at 7 A.M. EST, a few hours before First Quarter Moon occurs at 11:32 A.M. EST.
This evening offers lunar observers located in North America the chance to catch a fleeting feature created as the shadows shift under the rising Sun. The famous Lunar X, sometimes called the Werner X, is a so-called clair-obscur effect that briefly appears just northwest of the crater Werner in the lunar south. It’s located roughly halfway between the Moon’s equator and south pole, right along where the terminator dividing night and day is located tonight.
Astronomy contributor Alister Ling recommends taking photos or video clips every five to 10 minutes over the course of the evening, which when strung together will reveal the X appearing and then disappearing again.
Sunrise: 6:25 A.M.
Sunset: 5:58 P.M.
Moonrise: 10:14 A.M.
Moonset: 1:19 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (51%)
Friday, March 7
Sunrise: 6:23 A.M.
Sunset: 5:59 P.M.
Moonrise: 11:11 A.M.
Moonset: 2:26 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (62%)
Saturday, March 8
Sunrise: 6:22 A.M.
Sunset: 6:00 P.M.
Moonrise: 12:14 P.M.
Moonset: 3:24 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (72%)
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 2025:
| New | First Quarter | Full | Last Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 6 | Jan. 13 | Jan. 21 | |
| Jan. 29 | Feb. 5 | Feb. 12 | Feb. 20 |
| Feb. 27 | March 6 | March 14 | March 22 |
| March 29 | April 4 | April 12 | April 20 |
| April 27 | May 4 | May 12 | May 20 |
| May 26 | June 2 | June 11 | June 18 |
| June 25 | July 2 | July 10 | July 17 |
| July 24 | Aug. 1 | Aug. 9 | Aug. 16 |
| Aug. 23 | Aug. 31 | Sept. 7 | Sept. 14 |
| Sept. 21 | Sept. 29 | Oct. 6 | Oct. 13 |
| Oct. 21 | Oct. 29 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 12 |
| Nov. 20 | Nov. 28 | Dec. 4 | Dec. 11 |
| Dec. 19 | Dec. 27 |
