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 last Full Moon in 2024 was at 4:02 a.m. EDT on Sunday, Dec. 15, and was called the Cold Moon. The next Full Moon will be the Wolf Moon, which occurs at 5:27 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2025. We will update our calendar for 2025 on Jan. 1.
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 December 2024
The images below show the day-by-day phases of the Moon in December. The Full Moon this month was Sunday, Dec. 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.
Wednesday, December 18
The Moon passes 0.9° north of Mars at 4 A.M. EST. You can easily catch the pair before sunrise this morning — an hour before local sunrise, they’re 40° high in the west in central Cancer, near the Beehive open cluster (M44). Of course, the waxing gibbous Moon’s bright light will likely wash out the cluster itself, but Mars is glowing at magnitude –0.9 just to the lower right of Moon, quickly brightening as it approaches opposition in about a month.
Sunrise: 7:17 A.M.
Sunset: 4:37 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:09 P.M.
Moonset: 10:17 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (87%)
Thursday, December 19
Sunrise: 7:18 A.M.
Sunset: 4:37 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:16 P.M.
Moonset: 10:47 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (79%)
Friday, December 20
Sunrise: 7:18 A.M.
Sunset: 4:38 P.M.
Moonrise: 10:19 P.M.
Moonset: 11:11 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (70%)
Saturday, December 21
Sunrise: 7:19 A.M.
Sunset: 4:38 P.M.
Moonrise: 11:20 P.M.
Moonset: 11:33 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (61%)
Sunday, December 22
Last Quarter Moon occurs this afternoon at 5:18 P.M. EST.
Sunrise: 7:19 A.M.
Sunset: 4:39 P.M.
Moonrise: —
Moonset: 11:52 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (52%)
Monday, December 23
Sunrise: 7:20 A.M.
Sunset: 4:39 P.M.
Moonrise: 12:19 A.M.
Moonset: 12:11 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (42%)
Tuesday, December 24
The Moon reaches apogee, the farthest point from Earth in its orbit, at 2:25 A.M. EST. At that time, our satellite will stand 251,335 miles (404,484 kilometers) away.
Look south an hour before sunrise and you’ll see the waning crescent Moon just to the upper right of a bright, 1st-magnitude star. This is Spica, Virgo’s alpha star. You may even spot earthshine illuminating the portion of the Moon now in shadow, caused by sunlight bouncing off Earth. It’s a beautiful scene.
The Moon passes 0.2° north of Spica at 3 P.M. EST. By the time Virgo rises again — shortly before 2 A.M. local time tomorrow morning — the Moon will have moved on, now more than 7° southeast of Spica.
Sunrise: 7:20 A.M.
Sunset: 4:40 P.M.
Moonrise: 1:19 A.M.
Moonset: 12:31 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (33%)
Wednesday, December 25
Sunrise: 7:21 A.M.
Sunset: 4:40 P.M.
Moonrise: 2:19 A.M.
Moonset: 12:53 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (25%)
Thursday, December 26
Sunrise: 7:21 A.M.
Sunset: 4:41 P.M.
Moonrise: 3:22 A.M.
Moonset: 1:19 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (17%)
Friday, December 27
Sunrise: 7:21 A.M.
Sunset: 4:42 P.M.
Moonrise: 4:26 A.M.
Moonset: 1:50 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (10%)
Saturday, December 28
Early risers this morning will be greeted by a beautiful sight in the southeast, as the crescent Moon rises together with the bright red giant Antares and the planet Mercury. At 6 A.M. local time, the trio is 3° high, so you’ll need a clear horizon to spot them. If not, just wait a little while — half an hour later, as the sky is slowly growing light, they’ve reached an altitude of nearly 8°, appearing to stand in a neat horizontal line spanning some 9° from end to end.
The Moon is on the right, with Antares close beside it to the left. This magnitude 1.1 star is sometimes occulted by the Moon when conditions are right, but not today. Instead, the Moon will pass 0.09° due south of the star at 10 A.M. EST. Anchoring the left point in the line is Mercury, shining at magnitude –0.3.
The Moon will later pass 6° south of Mercury at 11 P.M. EST tonight, when both are hidden from view. By the time this region rises tomorrow morning, the Moon will be positioned directly below Mercury, our satellite showing off an even thinner crescent that rises roughly an hour before the Sun.
Sunrise: 7:21 A.M.
Sunset: 4:43 P.M.
Moonrise: 5:31 A.M.
Moonset: 2:29 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (5%)
Sunday, December 29
Sunrise: 7:22 A.M.
Sunset: 4:43 P.M.
Moonrise: 6:34 A.M.
Moonset: 3:18 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (2%)
Monday, December 30
New Moon occurs this morning at 5:27 P.M. EST.
Sunrise: 7:22 A.M.
Sunset: 4:44 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:33 A.M.
Moonset: 4:17 P.M.
Moon Phase: New
Tuesday, December 31
Sunrise: 7:22 A.M.
Sunset: 4:45 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:23 A.M.
Moonset: 5:25 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (1%)
Wednesday, January 1
The Moon passes 1.1° south of Pluto at 7 A.M. EST, when both are below the horizon in Capricornus. Due to the low altitude of this constellation during darkness and the immense faintness of Pluto, the latter will not be visible except to those with very large scopes at southerly declinations.
Sunrise: 7:22 A.M.
Sunset: 4:46 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:05 A.M.
Moonset: 6:37 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (4%)
Thursday, January 2
Sunrise: 7:22 A.M.
Sunset: 4:47 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:39 A.M.
Moonset: 7:51 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (9%)
Friday, January 3
The Moon passes 1.4° south of Venus at 10 A.M. EST. Although neither is visible at that time, you can spot them in the evening sky, now 3.4° apart and 30° high in the south at sunset. The crescent Moon sits to the upper right of blazing Venus, creating a stunning scene that will last: The pair will dominate the early-evening hours, finally setting in the west some four hours after sunset.
Sunrise: 7:22 A.M.
Sunset: 4:47 P.M.
Moonrise: 10:07 A.M.
Moonset: 9:03 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (17%)
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 |