A composite image showing the Full Moons in 2020 and 2021 by month. Credit: Soumyadeep Mukherjee.
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 6:17 a.m. on Sunday, July 21, and is called the Buck 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 June 2024
The images below show the day-by-day phases of the Moon In June. The Full Moon in June was at 6:17 a.m. on Friday, June 21.
The moonrise and moonset schedule this week
The following is adapted from Alison Klesman’s The Sky This Week article, which you can find here.
*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.
Saturday, June 22
Within two hours of sunset, asteroid 2 Pallas is high in the east, passing some 20′ due east of the recurring nova T Coronae Borealis tonight. Everyone’s eyes are on this fascinating star this summer; normally glowing around magnitude 10, it’s expected to briefly flare up into naked-eye range and reach magnitude 2, roughly the same brightness as Polaris, the North Star.
But let’s start with Pallas, which itself currently glows at 9th magnitude, just a bit brighter than T CrB. It’s been traveling in a southwestern arc through Corona Borealis and is now approaching the border of neighboring Serpens Caput, crossing into that constellation in just a few days. For a brighter signpost to find it, you can first locate Epsilon (ϵ) CrB, at magnitude 4.1, and center your scope there. Then, turn off your tracking. Less than 10 minutes later, Pallas should sit centered in your eyepiece.
Less than half a degree to Pallas’ west tonight is T CrB. This star last flared in brightness in 1946 and, although astronomers aren’t sure exactly when it will go off again, current estimates say it should experience another flare-up between now and September. It is one of fewer than a dozen known such recurring novae in our Milky Way, and because of its 80-year cycle, is only visible to the naked eye once every generation or so. So, make sure to keep tabs on this stunning star in the next few months to ensure you get to witness the event of a lifetime!
Sunrise: 5:32 A.M.
Sunset: 8:32 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:48 P.M.
Moonset: 5:37 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (99%)
Sunday, June 23
The Moon passes 1° north of dwarf planet 1 Ceres at 1 A.M. EDT this morning; for some, Luna also occults, or passes in front of, the rocky ruler of the main belt. Observers in the central and eastern U.S., as well as eastern Canada and northeastern Mexico, will see Ceres completely disappear behind the Moon for a brief period
In the U.S., the pair will rise close to each other in the constellation Sagittarius late on the 22nd, just east of the base of the Teapot asterism’s handle. The Moon will be hiding Ceres from view during the midnight hour.
Both the visibility and timing of the event are heavily location dependent. The dwarf planet will reappear in the skies above Chicago at 12:19 A.M. EDT and above New York City at 1:44 A.M. EDT. Note that Ceres currently shines at 8th magnitude, so it is invisible to the naked eye but can be easily captured in binoculars or any small scope.
If you want to know whether the occultation is visible from your location, you can check out the International Occultation Timing Association’s website.
Discovered in 1801, Ceres is the largest body in the main belt, spanning nearly 600 miles (965 kilometers) and containing roughly a quarter of the entire mass in the main belt. It is now classified as a dwarf planet.
Sunrise: 5:32 A.M.
Sunset: 8:33 P.M.
Moonrise: 10:34 P.M.
Moonset: 6:44 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (96%)
Monday, June 24
Sunrise: 5:33 A.M.
Sunset: 8:33 P.M.
Moonrise: 11:12 P.M.
Moonset: 7:59 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (91%)
Tuesday, June 25
Sunrise: 5:33 A.M.
Sunset: 8:33 P.M.
Moonrise: 11:44 P.M.
Moonset: 9:15 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (84%)
Wednesday, June 26
Sunrise: 5:33 A.M.
Sunset: 8:33 P.M.
Moonrise: —
Moonset: 10:30 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (74%)
Thursday, June 27
The Moon reaches perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit, at 7:30 A.M. EDT. At that time, our satellite will be 229,464 miles (369,287 km) away.
Skimming quickly through the sky, the Moon passes 0.08° north of Saturn at 11 A.M. EDT. It will sit to the right of the ringed planet in the morning sky for observers in the U.S., as this event takes place well after sunrise even on the West Coast. The Moon will keep moving rapidly along the morning lineup of planets, passing close to Neptune early tomorrow morning.
Sunrise: 5:34 A.M.
Sunset: 8:33 P.M.
Moonrise: 12:10 A.M.
Moonset: 11:44 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (64%)
Friday, June 28
The Moon now passes 0.3° north of Neptune at 5 A.M. EDT, just over 12 hours before our satellite reaches Last Quarter phase at 5:53 P.M. EDT.
Sunrise: 5:34 A.M.
Sunset: 8:33 P.M.
Moonrise: 12:34 A.M.
Moonset: 12:56 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (52%)
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.
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 |