Current Moon Phase
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A Calendar for the Moons of the Year

Times are given in Pacific Standard Time
Moon Names are Celtic/Medieval English

2009
Note: There's a Blue Moon in December.

January

* Full Moon (Quiet/Winter/Wolf Moon) - Saturday 10th, 7:27 pm
* New Moon - Sunday 25th, 11:55 pm

February

* Imbolc - Monday 2nd
* Full Moon (Chaste/Ice Moon) - Monday 9th, 6:49 am
* New Moon - Tuesday 24th, 5:35pm

March

* Full Moon ( Wind/Growing/Seed) - Tuesday 10th, 7:38 pm
* Spring Equinox - Tuesday 20th
* New Moon - Thursday 26th, 9:06 am

April

* Full Moon (Flower/Hare Moon) - Thursday 9th, 7:56 am
* New Moon - Friday 24th, 8:22 am

May

* Beltane - Friday 1st
* Full Moon (Bright/Hare Moon) - Friday 8th, 9:01 pm
* New Moon - Sunday 24th, 5:11 am

June

* Full Moon (Claiming/Strawberry/Mead Moon) - Sunday 7th, 11:12 am
* Summer Solstice - Sunday 21st
* New Moon - Monday 22nd, 12:35 pm

July

* Full Moon (Dispute/Mead/Corn Moon) - Tuesday 7th, 2:21 am
* New Moon - Tuesday 21st, 7:34 pm

August

* Lammas / Lughnassadh 1st
* Full Moon (Singing/Barley/Wort Moon) - Wednesday 5th, 5:55 pm
* New Moon - Thursday 20th, 3:01 am

September

* Full Moon (Harvest/Blood Moon) - Friday 4th, 9:02 am
* Fall Equinox - Sunday 22nd
* New Moon - Friday 18th, 11:44 am

October

* Full Moon (Hunters/Blood Moon) - Saturday 3rd, 11:10 pm
* New Moon - Saturday 17th, 10:33 pm
* Samhain - Saturday 31st

November

* Full Moon (Cold/Dark Moon) - Monday 2nd, 11:14 am
* New Moon - Monday 16th, 11:14 am

December

* Full Moon (Cold/Oak Moon) - Tuesday 1st, 11:30 pm
* New Moon - Wdnesday 16th, 4:02 am
* Winter Solstice - Friday 21st
* Full Moon (Blue Moon) - Thursday 31st, 11:13 am

 

 

Moon Facts

A blue moon is not supposed to refer to the second full moon in a month. This was a mistake that has perpetuated even to this day. It actually refers to seasons, rather than months. During the seasonal year, there are usually three seasons with three moons and a fourth with four. The fourth moon in that season is called a blue moon so the names of the other moons in that season would stay in the correct place.

The moon always shows the same side to us. The way it spins in orbit keeps the same side to the Earth at all times. Many moons around other planets do the same thing.

The moon is bigger than Pluto.

The next full moon on Halloween will be in 2020. There will be no full moon in February in 2018.

The dark side of the moon is a misnomer. It gets light just like the rest of the moon. It's simply the side we can't see.

The moon is not actually round; it is egg-shaped. The pointy end is facing us.

There are 400 trees growing right now that were taken into orbit around the moon during one of the Apollo missions.

The moon appears to move across the sky on Earth, but Earth is pretty stationary from the moon. This comes from the fact that the same side is always facing the Earth, so walking around on the surface of the moon is the only way to move the Earth in the sky.

Sometimes, there appears to be a ring around the moon. This is generally caused by ice crystals in the atmosphere, but traditionally it is considered bad luck. :(

The moon has earthquakes. Or moonquakes?

The density of the outer layers of the moon is similar to that of cheese. History has it wrong on one point, however. Swiss cheese is too dense. The moon is actually closer to Romano cheese. See, sometimes the kids have it right.

The moon does not actually orbit the Earth. (Keep reading before calling me any names, please.) Instead, the moon and Earth spin together around the sun. Think of it like two ice skaters holding hands, whirling together in a circle while moving around the rink.

Some of the moon rocks brought back the Earth by the Apollo missions were later stolen. One was even lost in the mail.

The moon only reflects back 7% of the light that hits it. A sheet of white paper in moonlight is about 2000 times darker than black velvet on a sunny day.

There isn't just a man in the moon. There are also a lady, a rabbit and a toad.

A golf ball was hit 2,400 feet (almost a half mile) on the surface of the moon.

There is evidence that people gain and loose weight with the moon phases. (Really, it wasn't the three slices of cheesecake, it was just the full moon.)

 

Great Sites on the Moon

Moon Tool
A great program that runs on your computer, showing the phase of the moon in a small graphic in the task bar of your desktop. Great for reminding you to reconnect.

Complete Sun and Moon Data for One Day
Need to know what the sun and moon are doing in your town for the big event? The Navy can help with this one.

Inconstant Moon

Keith's Moon Page

The Moon Trees

The Nine Planets: Luna

Sky and Telescope Article on Blue Moon