Full Moon Calendar 2023
The moon controls the tides and influences human behavior. It’s no wonder that many cultures celebrate important events according to the lunar calendar. Here is a list of full moons for 2023, with their traditional names and associated folklore. All times within this article are in the Eastern Standard Time zone (New York) and are based on a 24-hour clock. AM time is below 13:00. For PM time, subtract 12:00.
Check out the article The Moons Symbolism to learn about what the moon spiritually symbolizes.
Full Moon Phases: 2023
January 2023 Full Moon – The Wolf Moon 2023
January 6th – 18:08 EST
Named for howling wolves, this moon occurs at the midpoint of winter. It’s also called the Old Moon and the Moon After Yule.
February 2023 Full Moon – Snow Moon 2023
February 5th – 13:29 EST
It derived this name from the heavy snowfalls of February. It’s also known as the Hunger Moon, since game is scarce and hunters have a hard time finding food.
March 2023 Full Moon – Worm Moon 2023
March 7th – 07:40 EST
This moon heralds the return of spring when the earthworms appear. It’s also called the Crust Moon, because the snow thaws and the ground gets crusty.
April 2023 Full Moon – Pink Moon 2023
April 6th – 00:34 EST
The Pink Moon is named for the pink wildflowers that bloom in April. This full moon is also known as the Sprouting Grass Moon and the Egg Moon.
May 2023 Full Moon – Flower Moon 2023
May 5th 13:34 EST
The name of this moon comes from the many flowers that bloom in May. It’s also known as the Corn Planting Moon and the Milk Moon.
June 2023 Full Moon – Strawberry Moon 2023
June 3 23:42 EST
Named for the wild strawberries that ripen in June, this moon is also called the Rose Moon and the Hot Moon.
July 2023 Full Moon – Buck Moon 2023
July 3rd 07:39 EST
The Buck Moon gains its name from the new antlers that appear on buck deer in July. It’s also called the Thunder Moon, because of the frequent thunderstorms of summer.
August 2023 Full Moon – Sturgeon Moon 2023
August 1st 14:31 EST
Named for the sturgeon fish that are abundant in August, this moon is also called the Green Corn Moon and the Grain Moon.
August 2023 Blue Moon – Blue Moon 2023
August 30th 01:31 EST
What exactly is a blue moon?
Read the section about this uncommon occurrence at the end for a better understanding.
September 2023 Full Moon – Harvest Moon 2023
September 29th 05:57 EST
This is the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox. It’s also called the Barley Moon and the Wine Moon.
October 2023 Full Moon – Hunter’s Moon 2023
October 28th 16:24 EST
Named for the hunting season, this moon is also called the Blood Moon, because of the red leaves of autumn.
November 2023 Full Moon – Beaver Moon 2023
November 27th 04:16 EST
Named for the beavers that build their dams in November, this moon is also called the Frost Moon, because of the early frost.
December 2023 Full Moon – Cold Moon 2023
December 26th 19:33 EST
This is the full moon that occurs closest to the winter solstice. It’s also called the Long Night’s Moon and the Moon Before Yule.
Equinox and Solstice: 2023
Spring Equinox 2023 (Vernal Equinox 2023):
- March 20 17:25 EST
Summer Solstice 2023:
- June 21 10:58 EST
Fall / Autumn Equinox 2023 (Autumnal Equinox 2023):
- September 23rd 02:50 EST
Winter Solstice 2023:
- December 21st 22:28 EST
What are Equinox’s and Solstice’s?
Equinox’s and solstice’s are two very special days in the year. They are the only two days when the day and night are of equal length. An Equinox happens twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. A solstice happens once a year in either June or December.
What is an Equinox?
On an equinox, day and night are of equal length because the sun is directly over the equator. The word “equinox” comes from the Latin words for “equal night”. This occurs because the earth is tilted on its axis, and when the sun is directly over the equator, there is no tilt. The sun shines directly on the equator, and there is no tilt.
What is a Solstice?
A solstice is when the sun is at its farthest point from the equator. This happens because the earth is tilted on its axis, and when the sun is at its farthest point from the equator, there is the most tilt. The word “solstice” comes from the Latin words for “sun” and “to stand still”. This is because the sun appears to stand still in the sky for a few days before it starts to move again.
Are the Solstices the Same in Both Hemispheres?
In short, no. The solstices are actually opposite of eachother depending on the hemisphere.
What is the Difference Between a Solstice in the Northern Hamisphere and Southern Hemisphere?
During a solstice, the day is either the longest or the shortest, depending on which hemisphere you are in. In the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice is when the sun is at its farthest point from the equator, and the December solstice is when the sun is at its closest point to the equator. This is the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere.
Lunar Eclipse: 2023
The Next Lunar Eclipses for 2023
- May 5th at 13:23 EST
- September 29th at 05:47 EST
What is a Lunar Eclipse?
Lunar Eclipses happen when the moon enters into Earth’s shadow. This can only happen during a Full Moon, when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are perfectly aligned. The alignment of these three celestial bodies is pretty rare, so a lunar eclipse doesn’t happen often.
There are two types of lunar eclipses: total and partial. A total lunar eclipse happens when the entire moon enters Earth’s shadow. This causes the moon to darken and take on a red hue. A partial lunar eclipse happens when only a part of the moon enters Earth’s shadow.
Lunar eclipses can be viewed with the naked eye, unlike solar eclipses, which require special safety equipment to view.
The Blue Moon – 2023
The Next Blue Moon – 2023
- August 30th 01:31 EST
What is a Blue Moon?
As long time moon watchers know, blue moons are pretty rare. In fact, they only happen every once in a while-about once every 2.7 years to be exact. But what exactly is a blue moon?
Most of us have probably heard the phrase “once in a blue moon” and use it to describe something that doesn’t happen very often. This phrase actually has its roots in moon watching.
“Blue moon” originally referred to the third full moon in a season that had four full moons.
Now, the modern definition of a blue moon is a bit different. It’s the second full moon in a single calendar month. This happens about every 2.7 years on average.
So why are blue moons so rare? It all has to do with the length of a month-specifically, the time it takes for the moon to orbit around Earth. A month is defined as the time it takes for the moon to go from one new moon phase to the next. This is also the time it takes for the moon to complete one orbit around Earth.
The average month is about 29.5 days long. But because the Earth is constantly moving in its orbit around the sun, its speed changes slightly over time. This affects the moon’s orbit as well and causes it to speed up and slow down ever so slightly. As a result, the length of a month can vary by a day or two.
Every now and then, we get an extra full moon in a single calendar month simply because there aren’t enough days in that month for the moon to wane from full back to new again. When this happens, the second full moon is considered a blue moon.
