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 7:26 a.m. EDT on Friday, Nov. 15, and is called the Beaver Moon. It is also a Super Moon.
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 November 2024
The images below show the day-by-day phases of the Moon in November. The Full Moon this month is Friday, Nov. 15.
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, November 12
Sunrise: 6:42 A.M.
Sunset: 4:46 P.M.
Moonrise: 2:50 P.M.
Moonset: 2:37 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (86%)
Wednesday, November 13
The bright waxing gibbous Moon is already well above the eastern horizon as darkness falls after sunset this evening. Now it’s time to focus in on our satellite — pull out your telescope and home in on the southwestern portion of the disk, near the limb. This is where the Dragon’s Mouth lies — a play of shadows and light across the terrain here that only appears briefly and under the right Sun angle.
Look first for the crater Mersenius just west of Mare Humorum, the Sea of Moisture. Mersenius has a low, worn-away rim and a floor pocked with craterlets and crossed by cracks (called rilles). To Mersenius’ southwest are the smaller craters Henry and Henry Frères — it is south of these features that the Dragon’s Mouth appears, looking like “a mouthful of very bright teeth,” according to lunar observer David Gamble. These teeth are actually illuminated lunar mountains, but perhaps your mind’s eye can turn them into the same — or a different — fanciful sight.
Sunrise: 6:43 A.M.
Sunset: 4:45 P.M.
Moonrise: 3:16 P.M.
Moonset: 3:54 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (93%)
Thursday, November 14
The Moon reaches perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit, at 6:16 A.M. EST. At that time, our satellite will sit just 223,762 miles (360,110 kilometers) away. This cosmic setup comes just in time for tomorrow’s Full Moon, which will be a Super Moon (a phenomenon that occurs when the Moon is Full at the same time it is nearest our planet). It will be the last Super Moon in 2024.
Sunrise: 6:45 A.M.
Sunset: 4:44 P.M.
Moonrise: 3:46 P.M.
Moonset: 5:12 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (98%)
Friday, November 15
Full Moon occurs at 4:29 P.M. EST. The November Full Moon is also called the Beaver Moon, and this one is also a Super Moon. It’s the fourth in a series of four back-to-back Super Moons, all occurring when the Moon is Full while near perigee, the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit around our planet. At the moment the Moon reaches Full, it will be 224,853 miles (361,866 km) from Earth, making it the third brightest of the four Super Moons this year (last month’s Super Moon was the biggest and brightest of the batch).
In addition to shining big and bright in our sky, the Moon has even more going on tonight. Our satellite passes 4° north of Uranus at 8 P.M. EST; at that time, the Moon stands just to the right of the Pleiades (M45), a bright open star cluster in Taurus the Bull. South of the Moon, the solar system’s penultimate planet shines at magnitude 5.6 and will require binoculars or a telescope to spot. Uranus’ tiny disk appears nearly 4” across — look for its grayish hue.
And keep watching The Moon. Our satellite continues tracking toward the Pleiades and, within a few hours (starting late on the 15th in the western U.S. and early on the 16th farther east), the Moon occults several stars in the cluster, passing in front of them and hiding them from view behind its bright face. We’ll cover this exciting event in our column next week, so stay tuned!
Sunrise: 6:46 A.M.
Sunset: 4:43 P.M.
Moonrise: 4:21 P.M.
Moonset: 6:32 A.M.
Moon Phase: Full
Saturday, November 16
Sunrise: 6:47 A.M.
Sunset: 4:42 P.M.
Moonrise: 5:05 P.M.
Moonset: 7:53 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (99%)
Sunday, November 17
The Leonid meteor shower peaks today, unfortunately with a bright gibbous Moon still in the sky. Our satellite is still located in Taurus, passing 6° north of Jupiter at 10 A.M. EST.
Around 5 A.M. local time, the Moon sits to Jupiter’s upper right as Taurus slowly sets in the west; despite the bright moonlight, Jupiter is still readily visible at magnitude –2.8. The gas giant is located between the two horns of the Bull, directly above the constellation’s brightest star, the magnitude 0.9 red giant Aldebaran.
Sunrise: 6:48 A.M.
Sunset: 4:42 P.M.
Moonrise: 5:59 P.M.
Moonset: 9:09 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (95%)
Monday, November 18
Sunrise: 6:49 A.M.
Sunset: 4:41 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:02 P.M.
Moonset: 10:14 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (89%)
Tuesday, November 19
Sunrise: 6:50 A.M.
Sunset: 4:40 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:10 P.M.
Moonset: 11:07 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (81%)
Wednesday, November 20
The Moon passes 2° north of Mars at 4 P.M. EST; the two are visible in the early-morning sky, more than 60° high in the southwestern sky two hours before sunrise. At this time, the Moon is still fairly far from Mars, hanging to the Red Planet’s lower right. Mars is near the central region of Cancer the Crab, glowing at magnitude –0.3.
Sunrise: 6:51 A.M.
Sunset: 4:40 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:20 P.M.
Moonset: 11:49 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (72%)
Thursday, November 21
Sunrise: 6:53 A.M.
Sunset: 4:39 P.M.
Moonrise: 10:27 P.M.
Moonset: 12:21 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (63%)
Friday, November 22
Last Quarter Moon occurs at 8:28 P.M. EST.
Sunrise: 6:54 A.M.
Sunset: 4:38 P.M.
Moonrise: 11:31 P.M.
Moonset: 12:47 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (53%)
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 |
