There is some lovely moonshine as the moon grows fuller and the clouds don’t block the view. As we approach a full Wolf Moon, it will rise.
The Wolf Moon will appear to be full Sunday through Tuesday evenings, even though the moon will be full on Monday.
As an added benefit for skywatchers, the moon will pass in front of Mars, the Red Planet, on Monday night while it is full.
Additionally, you might still be able to spot a few meteors from the Quadrantids that peaked this month during this Wolf Moon phase. There is always a chance to view a few lovely shooting stars from this shower, even if you probably won’t see brilliant fireballs because this particular meteor shower is ending due to the full moon’s bright brightness. By January 16, they should be over.
This drawing depicts the moon’s phases in January 2025.NASA contributed the illustration.
Additionally, the bright planet parade is still in progress. In order to appreciate all of this after-dark splendor, plan to bundle up and spend at least a few minutes outside on a night this weekend.
What is known about the Wolf Moon name’s beginnings? To begin with, this January moon has other names. It has also been referred to as the Moon after Yule, the Old Moon, and the Ice Moon.
But according to a recent NASA skywatching blog, the Wolf Moon term comes from a Native American nickname for this month’s lunar cycle:
In the 1930s, Native American names for full moons were first published in the Maine Farmers’ Almanac. These names have gained popularity and usage throughout time. According to this almanac, the January full moon is known as the Wolf Moon because of the wolf packs that may be heard howling outside of communities during the bitterly cold and severe winter snowfall.