Moon Phases, Moon Names & Celestial Events 2023; Share your photos here of the various moon phases

A couple of forum mates have asked about a moon thread again, which didn't appear last year.

For those interested, the following dates and times, along with info about the full moon names, is based on the Midlands to try and give a general idea of when to see the moon in its various phases

It is important to note various parts of Britain will differ with regards to the actual moon phase times.

There are many websites where you can obtain the moon phase times for your location, and that includes many meteorological sites, and tide time tables. For the following information I used the TimeandDate website.

Full Moon Names, dates and times; Northern Hemisphere, the Midlands area, Britain

Moon Phases 2023

New Moon

First Quarter

Full Moon

Third Quarter

 

 

 

 

Fri 06 Jan

23:07

Sun 15 Jan

02:10

Sat 21 Jan

20:53

Sat 28 Jan

15:18

Sun 05 Feb

18:28

Mon 13 Feb

16:00

Mon 20 Feb

07:05

Mon 27 Feb

08:05

Tue 07 Mar

12:40

Wed 15 Mar

02:08

Tue 21 Mar

17:23

Wed 29 Mar

03:32

Thu 06 Apr

05:34

Thu 13 Apr

10:11

Thu 20 Apr

05:12

Thu 27 Apr

22:19

Fri 05 May

18:34

Fri 12 May

15:28

Fri 19 May

16:53

Sat 27 May

16:22

Sun 04 Jun

04:41

Sat 10 Jun

20:31

Sun 18 Jun

05:37

Mon 26 Jun

08:49

Mon 03 Jul

12:38

Mon 10 Jul

02:47

Mon 17 Jul

19:31

Tue 25 Jul

23:06

Tue 01 Aug

19:31

Tue 08 Aug

11:28

Wed 16 Aug

10:38

Thu 24 Aug

10:57

Thu 31 Aug

02:35

Wed 06 Sep

23:21

Fri 15 Sep

02:39

Fri 22 Sep

20:31

Fri 29 Sep

10:57

Fri 06 Oct

14:47

Sat 14 Oct

18:55

Sun 22 Oct

04:29

Sat 28 Oct

21:24

Sun 05 Nov

08:36

Mon 13 Nov

09:27

Mon 20 Nov

10:49

Mon 27 Nov

09:16

Tue 05 Dec

05:49

Tue 12 Dec

23:32

Tue 19 Dec

18:39

Wed 27 Dec

00:33

 

 

 

 

January: Wolf Moon  Fri 06 Jan         23:07

  

The January Full Moon is often called the Wolf Moon from the howling of hungry wolves in the winter. This name is thought to have a Celtic and Old English origin, and that European settlers brought it to North America.

Other Celtic names include Stay Home Moon and Quiet Moon. Moon After Yule is an Anglo-Saxon version, referring to the pre-Christian Yule (or Juul) celebrations around the winter solstice. Native American names are Severe Moon and Centre Moon.

 

February: Snow Moon           Sun 05 Feb      18:28

 

The Snow Moon in February is aptly named after abundant snowfall. Some North American tribes called it the Hungry Moon due to the scarce food sources during mid-winter, while others named it Bear Moon to refer to when bear cubs are born. Storm Moon, Ice Moon, and Snow Moon were common Celtic and Old English names.

 

March: Worm Moon  Tue 07 Mar     12:40

 

The last Full Moon of the winter season in March is the Worm Moon because of the earthworms that come out when the soil warms up. Native American tribes called it the Crow Moon for the crows coming back, Snow Crust Moon, and Sap and Sugar Moon for when the maple sap runs.

The Anglo-Saxons called it Lenten Moon after the Germanic Lenten for spring. The Celts called it the Wind Moon and Plough Moon. In Old English, it was known as the Death Moon and the Chaste Moon referring to the purity of the spring season.

 

April: Pink Moon        Thu 06 Apr      05:34

 

The April Full Moon is known as the Pink Moon, from the pink phlox wildflowers that bloom in North America in the early spring. The Native American names referred to the spring thaws and the return of growth, including Breaking Ice Moon and The Moon of the Red Grass Appearing.

Common names in Europe also referred to the budding and birth of spring: The Anglo-Saxons called it Egg Moon, the Celts had names like Budding Moon, New Shoots Moon, Seed Moon, and Growing Moon. A Neo-Pagan name is Awakening Moon.

The April Full Moon can also be the Paschal Moon, which is used to calculate the date for Easter.

Both the April and May Full Moon have a name that refers to the budding spring.

 

May: Flower Moon    Fri 05 May       18:34


The Full Flower Moon in May describes all the flowers blooming in spring.

Native Americans called it Budding Moon, Egg Laying Moon, and Planting Moon. The Anglo-Saxon name is Milk Moon, while the Celtic and Old English names are Mothers’ Moon, Bright Moon, Hare Moon, and Grass Moon.

 

June: Strawberry Moon        Sun 04 Jun       04:41


June’s Full Moon is the Strawberry Moon as the little red berries ripen at this time and could be gathered by the Native American tribes. Other native names are Berries Ripen Moon, Green Corn Moon, and Hot Moon.

The Celtic names are Mead Moon, Horse Moon, Dyan Moon, and Rose Moon. Other English names are Flower Moon and Planting Moon.

 

July: Buck Moon         Mon 03 Jul      12:38

 

In July, the Full Moon is called Buck Moon to signify the new antlers that emerge on deer buck’s foreheads around this time. Other Native American tribes call it Salmon Moon, Raspberry Moon, and Thunder Moon.

In Celtic, this Moon was known as the Claiming Moon, Wyrt Moon, Herb Moon, and Mead Moon. The Anglo-Saxons called it the Hay Moon.

 

August: Sturgeon Moon        Tue 01 Aug      19:31

 

August has the Full Sturgeon Moon because of the large numbers of lake sturgeon in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. The fish was essential for Native American tribes in the area.

The Celts called it Dispute Moon and Lynx Moon, and the Anglo-Saxons the Grain Moon. Other English names include Corn Moon and Lightning Moon.

 

August; Blue Moon    Thu 31 Aug      02:35

 

But because the lunar month is shorter than the month in a solar or tropical year, every two to three years, there is an extra Full Moon in a year. This Moon is known as a Blue Moon because it hasn’t got a name like the other 12 Full Moons of the year.

 

September or October: Harvest Moon         Fri 29 Sep        10:57

 

Technically, the Harvest Moon is the Full Moon closest to the September equinox around September 22. The Harvest Moon is the only Full Moon name determined by the equinox rather than a month. Most years, it’s in September, but around every three years, it falls in October.

 

September: Corn Moon

In September, the Full Moon is the Corn Moon from the Native American tribes harvesting their corn. It can also be the Harvest Moon, which corresponds with the Anglo-Saxon name, while Celtic and Old English names are Wine Moon, Song Moon, and Barley Moon.

 

October: Hunter’s Moon       Sat 28 Oct       21:24

 

Traditionally, people in the Northern Hemisphere spent October preparing for the coming winter by hunting, slaughtering, and preserving meats, giving it its Anglo-Saxon name Hunter’s Moon. Every three years, the Hunter’s Moon is the Harvest Moon.

Native Americans named this Full Moon after fall, including Drying Rice Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, and Freezing Moon. The Celts used Seed Fall Moon to describe this. Also, the Pagan Blood Moon or Sanguine Moon is used for this Full Moon. However, this should not be confused with a total lunar eclipse, a Blood Moon.

 

November: Beaver Moon      Mon 27 Nov    09:16


The Full Moon in November is named after beavers who can be seen preparing for the winter. Native Americans also called it the Frost Moon and Freezing Moon. In Celtic tradition, it is also called the Mourning Moon and the Darkest Depths Moon.

 

December: Cold Moon          Wed 27 Dec    00:33


In December, winter begins for most people in the Northern Hemisphere. The December Full Moon is called the Cold Moon.

The Old English and Anglo-Saxon names are the Moon Before Yule or the Long Night Moon, referring to the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere: the December solstice. The Celts called it the Oak Moon or the Full Cold Moon.

 

Note: Because Full Moons have been given names in different parts of the world with different seasons and cultures, there are several alternative names making this an extensive but not exhaustive list. Overlap between the months may also happen as the Full Moon name was used to track the whole lunar month.

The Full Moon names used today refer to the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere, so it doesn’t work to flip the names to fit the calendar in the Southern Hemisphere. As far as our research goes, Full Moon names are not common in Australia and New Zealand.

However, like the Native Americans, Māoris have their lunar calendar. It’s called the maramataka and starts in May. Each month has a name that refers to the season: Pipiri, Hongonui, Here-turi-kōkā, Mahuru, Whiringa-ā-nuku, Whiringa-ā-rangi, Hakihea, Kohi-tātea, Hui-tanguru, Poutū-te-rangi, Paenga-whāwhā, and Haratua.

Full Moon Names in Other Cultures

In Japan, the name tsukumi literally means “looking at the Moon” but is commonly used to name the tradition of viewing the Harvest Moon. Koreans call it chuseok, and it is similar to the Mid-Autumn Festival in China.

In Sri Lanka, the Full Moon is called Poya and each Moon has its own name and a dedicated holiday. Listed here in the order January-December: Duruthu Poya, Navam Poya, Madin Poya, Bak Poya, Vesak Poya, Poson Poya, Esala Poya, Nikini Poya, Binara Poya, Vap Poya, Ill Poya, and Unduvap Poya.

13th Full Moon in a Year

The time the Moon takes to orbit Earth is around 29.5 days and is called a lunar month, giving us about 12 Full Moons a year.

But because the lunar month is shorter than the month in a solar or tropical year, every two to three years, there is an extra Full Moon in a year. This Moon is known as a Blue Moon because it hasn’t got a name like the other 12 Full Moons of the year.

  • https://youtu.be/bQM9IT4ZzbE

    The launch of Apollo 11 as it happened!

    Regards,

    Ian.

  • Zo Clark said:

    The moon actually gets its light from the sun so What do you think?

    Of course it does! As all the other planets and moons in the solar system get the light from our sun. But did you know that the furthest galaxies that can be seen from our Earth are not as we see them now. Bus those galaxies as they where billions of years ago and some Galaxies even further away than that. The further you look at all the Galaxies in the furthest part of the observable universe as we seen them from earth as light from some of the furthest galaxies take billions of years to reach the earth. So us Humana as we look at the furthest galaxies are not seeing them as they actually are like now. But from our planet we are seeing all those galaxies as they looked billions of years ago. That may sound unbelievable. But that is true!

    Regards,

    Ian.

  • wtamu.edu/.../

    How does looking at distant Galaxies allow us to look back in time. A more detailed explanation!

    Regards,

    Ian.

  • I get the moon shine right into my room and the moons light reflects onto the windowsill

    Moonlight shining from the moon onto the windowsill

    Depending on where you stand the moon appears to move with you sometimes. I closed the window for abit and took a photo, The window is reflecting the actual colour of the moon and you can see the phase aswell

  • The clouds have been going past the moon. There is interesting phenomenons like iridescence and something called a halo they can appear around the moon when there’s clouds near it sometimes when it does it can create a rainbow halo Around the moon. 

    There is Other optical phenomena that can happen when the moon is out

    land aswell as halos you can get a phenomen called a 22 degree arc aswell 

  • Unknown said:

    Zo Clark said:

    The moon actually gets its light from the sun so What do you think?

    Of course it does! As all the other planets and moons in the solar system get the light from our sun. But did you know that the furthest galaxies that can be seen from our Earth are not as we see them now. Bus those galaxies as they where billions of years ago and some Galaxies even further away than that. The further you look at all the Galaxies in the furthest part of the observable universe as we seen them from earth as light from some of the furthest galaxies take billions of years to reach the earth. So us Humana as we look at the furthest galaxies are not seeing them as they actually are like now. But from our planet we are seeing all those galaxies as they looked billions of years ago. That may sound unbelievable. But that is true!

     Yes. But even though I already knew what you put I still find it very interesting. And as much as we know  there’s a lot of things people  still don’t know so there’s still alot to learn  even to this day it’s like the more we learn the more things we discover that people didn’t know and the more things we have to discover. 

  • I may need to modify my telescope to take photos from my 'electronic camera', other than my 'photo camera' to make pictures here. However!

    The 'phase' of the Moon (and also apogee/perigee) alters the 'gravity force' that affects all 'gravitational phenomenon' that can exhibit an 'effect' upon any Earth/Moon interaction. This doesn't only affect the 'sea tidal' affect, it also includes the 'atmospheric tidal affect'.

    The 'gravitational distances' between 'apogee' and 'perigee' partially discloses the 'distance' between the Earth and it's Moon, but these aren't 'coincidental' with one-another. The 'growth of a human fingernail' has been related to the 'escape orbit' of our Earth's/Moon interaction and this is a region of concern to me. This gives me concern for my offspring WRT the 'Earth-Moon' distance and 'gravitational attractors'. This is a 'mass/kinetic/energy displacement' calculation and not a 'simple calculation' of 'mass/mass'.

    Your thoughts please.

    Kindest regards, Ray Dart (AKA suricat).
  • Unknown said:

    About 30 minutes ago, I rushed out to back garden to try and photograph a Red Kite that was flying low, close to me and with sun shining on it.  The beastie wouldn't cooperate, and flew off.

    I noticed that the moon was up, and brightly lit. I had camera in hand (Canon 80D) with lens, Sigma 150-600mm contemporary, and thought why not. Pointed the thing at the moon and took a few photos for fun.

    This one was with Auto shooting mode (Canon P), and it decided that 1/1600th sec, f/6.3 and ISO 500 was fine. I shot this hand held. I know, I'm a heathen. However, I was in the middle of making my supper, and couldn't be bothered to find my tripod.

    Ah, the old adage, "never work with animals.....". We've all been there, many times, however, those moon pics are just stunning.

    You should find that using a shutter speed of 1/500 sec or fast doesn't need a tripod, even with the Sigma 150-600 lens, especially when using the image stabiliser on the Sigma lens.

    My first ever photo with the Sigma 150-600 was a test photo from inside the emporium, on a dark grey December day, a feral pigeon on the roof across the very wide road at 1/320 sec using the then 750D, and IS on. I was stunned at the clarity, and had to make the dash back the following morning to get the lens, as they'd only got the one in stock!

    Obviously I don't recommend using such low shutter speeds, they recommendation is 1/100 per 100mm focal length, which theoretically makes the Sigma at full length 1/600 sec to avoid serious risk of camera shake.

    BTW, I owe you an apology, and I will rectify it in the next couple of days. You responded on the Odds & Sods thread about your camera and settings. My excuse, I've been enjoying myself a little too much now I've got those new boots, and my 24/7 pass so every morning I've been getting a few early doors barn owl watching. But I will reply, I promise, plus a treat of some barn owl piccies.

  • Unknown said:


    This was the 24th December 1968 and waiting to see the first live lunar pictures with the first humans in orbit about 69 mikes above the lunar surface.. The first live pictures 60 thousand feet above the lunar surface were not perfect or good quality live pictures. The big improvement with good quality live pictures was from Apollo 14. As even with Apollo 11 on the moons the first live pictures of the first humans on the lunar were still not good until Apollo 14 when improvements with the live pictures from the lunar surface.
    https://youtu.be/DYR9gJyVbG0

    https://youtu.be/feTCKokMScw

    The second link was also on the live BBC 2 live broadcast of Apollo 8. But sadly on YouTube the most interesting part of the BBC TV live broadcast of the first live broadcast above the lunar surface with live pictures  was towards the end of the broadcast of the kiv  lunar as seen from Apollo 8 and I could not find anything of the rest of this part of this live broadcast from BBC TV on YouTube. So I’ve to find this part towards the of the USA original broadcast of those live pictures  although the who,e of the original BBC TV broadcast did cover this. I’m not a Christian and don’t go to church. But probably what was said from Apollo 8 on Christmas Eve evening in the UK had me moved although as I say I’m not a christian, Bur here is the second link which was said by those 3 USA Astronaughts and called: The Christmas Mesage!

    Though we never had a television at the time, I do remember all the photos of the Apollo 8 mission, which was the big prep for the Apollo 11 first moon landing and walk mission.

  • Unknown said:


    How did they broadcast live TV from the Moon? Considering technology was very basic in 1969 with technology!

    Not something easy to explain.

    First, radio waves work like an intense powerful beam light, particularly the very high end of the radio spectrum. Without any obstacles, they will penetrate, and the higher the power, the greater the penetration factor.

    The frequencies used as I understand are extremely high, and high powered, beamed transmissions using parabolic bowls to keep the bandwidth and direction very narrow and precise, and with nothing in the way, unlike today with the great abundance of satellites, it was as good as guaranteed.

    The receiving stations (Goonhilly in Cornwall was one of many around the world) will also use the same setup, only a lot bigger to enhance the received signals.

    If you look at any pictures of the Saturn V capsule and final rocket booster stage, along with the Lunar Module, you will see small parabolic dishes rather than a vertical single whip aerial seen on cars. These will be moved to obtain the most effective direction, and angle to pinpoint the beamed radio/tv signals straight to the preplanned receiving station. Likewise, the receiving station will also move their big parabola dishes to obtain the best angle and direction to receive these radio /tv signals.

    All this will have been pre-planned time, date, time and as near as damn it, precise direction (much of which will have been predetermined from earlier space and moon orbital missions, like Apollo 8) so when the broadcasts start, it doesn't take long to fine tune the alignment, and at less than 1mph for many big radio dishes, it could take a long time if they didn't have predetermined coordinates to work from.

    That basically is how the signals were received and for the technology at the time, very low resolution cameras, very crude by today's standards, brilliantly. Of course, with subsequent Apollo mission along with tech advances, these will have improved.

    I hope that helps, and if I've lost anyone along the way, I do understand it is hard to follow.