January Night Sky

 With the arrival of January 25th comes the first full moon of 2024. 

01.09.20 photo

According to Native American tradition January's full moon is named after howling wolves and is remembered as the Wolf Moon. 

It is said that at any given time there are estimated to be a dozen wolves wandering-about here on the peninsula.  I haven’t heard any wolves howling - just the resident coyotes - likely explained by the fact that the only wolves here are  solitary males.  They've been  known to find their way here having dispersed from other packs in northeastern Wisconsin or Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  I am also told it is unlikely there is a breeding population around here.  But I digress.

In other cultures this is called the Old Moon, Snow Moon, Ice Moon or Moon after Yule.  My Celtic ancestors called this the Stay At Home Moon. 

And so it begins - if you like clear skies and howling at the moon - 2024 is going to deliver 12 full moons.  The September and October lunar events are super moons and for good measure - a blue moon in August.  You may wish to bookmark this link so you don’t miss anything.   

Fingers-crossed for cold, clear winter sky-gazing tonight. 

Cheers!