Wolf Moon 2024: When is the first full moon of the year, what is a Wolf Moon, what are the other full moons called?

Want to see the next full moon? We have all the details you need.

A wolf moon will appear over the UK this month.

It's a sight that has inspired myths, superstitions and awe through the centuries - when the night sky is lit up by the seemingly-perfect glowing sphere of a full moon.

We experience one full moon every month, with each on given a different evocative name.

Here's how to see the first one of 2024 - the ferocious-sounding Wolf Moon. Just keep a lookout for werewolves.

What is a full moon?

A full moon is when moon appears as a complete circle in the sky. The moon produces no light of its own, so this only happens when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun - meaning the whole of the near side of the moon is fully lit up.

When is the Wolf Moon in 2024?

The next full moon or ‘Wolf Moon’ will reach its peak on Thursday, January 25, at 5.54pm. This time only applies to the UK however as when the full moon rises and sets depends on where you are on the planet.

What is a Wolf Moon?

According to the Space website, the January full moon is often called a 'Wolf Moon’ as it dates back to ancient times when hungry wolves would howl outside human settlements at this time of year. It is thought that many native American tribes and medieval Europeans stuck to this name for that reason yet it’s not clear where the name first came from.

Why do full moons have different names?

Full moon names are often attributed to Native American tribes that would give full moons nicknames to keep track of them as they didn’t record time using months found in the Julian or Gregorian calendar. Most of the names were linked to a specific event, for example this wolf moon is associated with the presence of howling wolves nearby their camps at this time.

Other moons like the blood moon were thought to be caused by Jaguars who attacked the moon and left it bleeding hence the red colour. These lunar systems and their names differed between tribes but as Farmer’s Almanac reports it seems Colonial Americans adopted some of these names and incorporated them into their own calendar systems.

When are the other full moons of 2024?

Here’s a full list of full moons in 2024:

February 24 - ‘Snow Moon’

March 25 - ‘Worm Moon’

April 24 - ‘Pink Moon’

May 23 - ‘Flower Moon’

June 22 - ‘Strawberry Moon’

July 21 - ‘Buck Moon’

August 19 - ‘Sturgeon Moon’ (also a seasonal Blue Moon)

September 18 - ‘Harvest Moon’ (also a Supermoon)

October 17 - ‘Hunter’s Moon’

November 15 - ‘Beaver Moon’

December 15 - ‘Cold Moon’