The names associated with our full moons are frequently
derived from the names given by the indigenous peoples that inhabited North
America. The tribes used a calendar to
track the seasons by means of the names given to the return of a full
moon.
In
the northern hemisphere the full moon that greets
us today is called the Buck Moon in recognition of the rapidly-growing,
velvet-covered, antlers of the whitetail deer. It will appear at its fullest tonight and tomorrow night. Look for it to rise
in the east after sunset; highest at midnight and setting in the west at dawn.
With the arrival of European settlers two
additional monikers come to mind:the
Meade Moon which coincides the harvest of honey used to ferment this drink and
the Hay Moon as the first cuttings of cattle fodder occur.
The June moon - typically the last full moon
of spring or the first of summer - is traditionally called the Strawberry Moon. With origins traced to the Algonquin people
this was a sign to commence gathering wild strawberries.
Following European settlement alternate names
included the Meade moon and the Honey moon were introduced.
Because the Roman goddess
of marriage is Juno – namesake of this frequent month of marriages - we have the honeymoon.
We've been checking almost daily; finally, from our morning walk yesterday there was this.
Huzzah!
Meet Iris Versicolor -commonly
known as Blue Flag Iris or Northern Iris, Harlequin Blue Flag, Larger
Blue Flag, Poison Flag, plus other variations of these names.
Habitats
include wet prairies, along rivers, wet woodlands, swamps, edges of
ponds and streams and other low-lying areas along rail lines and
roadsides. It likes wet feet - and it grows naturally along the banks
of Silver Creek and in low woodland habitat. A
beautiful and delicate wildflower it propagates by means of an
underground rhizome. Native cultures used the root for medicinal
purposes.
In Greek mythology Irisis a
personification of the rainbow and messenger of the gods - thus
explaining the wide range of colors of this member of the iris family.
If you are reading this you have ample notice about tomorrows' full moon - called the Pink Moon.
The term ‘Pink Moon’ actually does not imply that the
moon is pink.The term derives
from the spring appearance of native ground phlox and their pink blooms
that coincides with the April full moon. I recommend that if viewing
conditions are good tomorrow night that you step outside around 9 PM so you can witness the moon at its
largest.
The
April full moon is also known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon
and the
Fish Moon. The Algonquin people knew this as the Breaking Ice Moon
while the Dakota identify this as the When The Ducks Come Back Moon.
These native tribal names ring true around here.
The full moon for the month of March is frequently called the Full Worm Moon. The backstory is because of the earthworms that wriggle out of the ground as
the earth begins to thaw in March. As a consequence some Native
American Tribes referred to it as the Worm Moon and the return of
robins to feast on the emerging worms.
The
fact of the matter is that Northern tribes would not have embraced
this name for the March moon as there were no earthworms. A Southern
tribe maybe – but certainly not a Northern tribe.
Historically,
earthworms did not exist in the northern reaches of continental North
America. The ice sheets of the last glaciation wiped them out. All
of the earthworms and night crawlers we see nowadays were introduced
by European colonists – brought here in plant root balls and soil
used as ship ballast. That’s right – earthworms are an invasive species. But I digress.
Northern
American tribes such as the Shawnee tribe know this as the Sap Moon -
a reminder for the tribes that they can begin tapping maple trees for
the making of syrup.
In
general, March’s full moon is known as a herald for the beginning
of spring and new agricultural cycles. The European settlers referred
to this as the Lenten Moon and as a way to measure the progress of their
crops. They called it the Storm Moon if the weather was inclement –
an indicator their crops might fail. Under ideal growing conditions
they called it the Rugged Moon – a sign of a successful harvest
that year.
One
of its other names is the Chaste Moon, symbolizing the purity of
early spring. The Pueblo tribe named it the Moon When the Leaves
Break Forth, The Cree called it the Goose Moon, while in Shoshone culture it was known as the Warming
Moon. The Ojibwa called it the the Crows Come Back Moon, after the crows and other
birds that appear as winter draws to a close. It is also called the Crust Moon, because of the snow that becomes crusty when
it thaws in the sun and freezes in the moonlight.
The moon will be at its fullest tomorrow evening although to the casual observer it will appear full this evening.
There's a bonus this year; a total lunar eclipse. This full moon will pass directly through the Earth's umbral shadow
producing a total lunar eclipse visible to about 2.5 billion people (a third of the world population) across North America, Australia, New Zealand East Asia and the Pacific. At my
latitude the action will unfold around 3:50 AM Tuesday morning with the first
"bite" out of the moon beginning. Totality will commence at 5:04 AM and at maximum eclipse, 5:33 AM, the moon will be fully in the earth's shadow and it will appear reddened - a Blood Moon. Totality will end at 6:02 AM and, depending-upon your precise location, the moon will set around 6:26 - 6:33 AM.
Viewing Tips: Look toward the west/northwest and find a clear, unobstructed view of the western horizon as the moon will be very low in the sky at totality. If you live in the city, Newport State Park is designated as a 'Dark Sky Park' and a prime viewing location. If you live in flyover country like me you'll likely have near-optimal viewing conditions. Lastly, this is a lunar eclipse and no special eye protection is needed. If you have a pair of binoculars or a telescope - use them.
Fingers-crossed for clear, early morning skies...
Edit to add:
My view west of the lunar eclipse Tuesday morning at 4:48 am.
Sigh....
Members of the Cherokee nation refer to this month’s full moon as the
Bone Moon. This was a consequence of depleted food stores and the
necessity of cracking-open bones to access the marrow for survival food.
My own people – the ancient Celts – remember this as the Moon of Ice as it is associated with the coldest month of the year.
Colloquially, the February full moon is the Snow Moon.
Simultaneous moonset and sunrise this morning. A doubler.
View east...
View west...
And when you live halfway between the equator and the North Pole it’s still dang cold….
Native Americans have long grown familiar with this
moon.Members of the Cherokee nation
refer to this month’s full moon as the Bone Moon.This was a consequence of depleted food
stores and the necessity of cracking-open bones to access the marrow for
survival food.
NASA image
Those of the Kalapuya
nation referred to this as the Out of Food Moon.For others it was the Little Famine Moon or
the Hunger Moon.For the Cherokee the
association with hunger and starvation also included a brush with death.And the people use this as an opportunity to
communicate with dead ancestors during the Bone Moon. Indeed, these ancient native tribes named this moon after
the way trees cracked in the cold, or how people had to huddle around a fire
for warmth.My own people – the ancient
Celts – remember this as the Moon of Ice as it is associated with the coldest
month of the year. On a more upbeat note
it is the Hopi tribe of the southwest who call this the Moon of Purification
and renewal.
This close association with
the renewal that is marked by the arrival of spring is much more appealing to
me than bones and death. We have modern
refrigeration, canning, grocers, central heat, wood stoves, Merlot and streaming television.Starvation is rare and the entertainment possibilities are endless. Nevertheless, turning our eyes to the heavens hasn't changed in millennia.
February's full Moon - called the Full Snow Moon - reaches peak
fullness at 4:09 PM CST on Sunday, February 1. For the best view of this Moon be sure to
watch for it rising in the east at sunset. Near midnight the moon will be high in the sky and cast shadows in the snow-covered landscape. If you are an early riser be sure to look for it low above the western horizon before sunrise on February 2. The moon will also appear full the evenings of Saturday and Monday - before and after. Last, but not least, the moon will be closely associated with the brightest star in Leo - Regulus. You may have to use your hand to block out any moon glow to spot Regulus.
Happy viewing. And fingers crossed for cold, clear winter sky
gazing.....
The "Illitona Panpipe Group" refers to a traditional music ensemble hailing from the Solomon Islands. Specifically the Illitona Bamboo Band from Santa Isabel.
Known for their captivating, toe-tapping, get-up-and-dance panpipe (bamboo pipe) music which is a key part of the local culture performed on the islands like Kolombangara.
They play indigenous, rhythmic music using traditional instruments fashioned from bamboo pipes and showcasing a unique island sound.
If you ask me I don't see bamboo - I see drain pipe, PVC to be sure. I figure this western cultural addition may lend a uniformity in production value with the durability of polyvinyl chloride. It is the world's third-most produced plastic after all.
Enjoy this really fun music and try really hard not to get sucked into more of it.
Turn-up the volume nice and loud for Illitona Panpipe Group: Morning Star.....
With the arrival of this evening comes the first full
moon of 2026.
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.
This also happens to be super moon and will occur overnight tonight and tomorrow. Full moons are always opposite the sun and fully illuminated. They rise at sunset and set at sunrise. In wintertime these moons reach as high in the sky at midnight as a summer noonday sun and cast shadows! This is the third consecutive super moon (November, December and January) and will appear 8% larger and 16% brighter than your basic garden-variety full moon. Here in the Midwest the crest of the full moon falls at 4:03 AM tomorrow. Nevertheless, it will appear full both tonight and tomorrow and glow near Jupiter and the twin stars of Gemini - Castor and Pollux.
And so it begins - if you like clear skies
and howling at the moon - 2026 is going to deliver 13 must-see moon events including Super Moons, conjunctions and an eclipse. You may wish to bookmark this link so you don’t miss anything. Fingers-crossed
for cold, clear winter sky-gazing tonight.
The full moon you will observe in the heavens tonight is called the Cold Full Moon.It is characterized by the arc of its trajectory across the sky which
allows it to appear above the horizon for a longer period of time. Because of its close association with the
winter solstice - and the shortest of daylight hours - the Mohican people called this
the Long Nights Moon. Ancient European pagans also associated this with the solstice calling it The Moon Before Yule.
Bonus is the December full moon is also a Super Moon. Our moon has a wobbly egg-shaped orbit meaning that it is nearer sometimes (called perigee) and further sometimes (called apogee). Perigee and apogee generally occur in every month; and when perigee coincides with a full moon the moon's appearance is both brighter and larger.
2025 has eight supermoons! Including tonight's makes three in a row for October, November and December. Early in January 2026 is another making four in a row.. Fingers crossed for clear, cold viewing
tonight.
Full
moons often take their names from the traditions of native Americans
and European Settlers. November is that time of year that beavers reinforce their lodges for the duration of winter. As a consequence of
their pelts being prime this was also the time of year that fur traders
trapped beavers.
The
Lakota people recognized this as the Deer Rutting Moon, Cree and
Assiniboine called this the Frost Moon and with the spawning of this
fish species in November the Algonquin called this the Whitefish Moon.
This year brings us a bonus as this our second Supermoon of 2025. Because it is closer to earth, Perigee, it will appear larger and brighter than usual.
The best times to look will be tomorrow, Wednesday, November 5th immediately following sunset; or moonset (before sunrise) on Thursday for softer colors and a dramatic horizon view. See below.
11.19.2021
This is not a sunrise. It is a photo I took at sunrise of the Full Beaver Moon setting in the west, 2021.
This
was a nice balance of low sunlight in the foreground from the rising
sun behind me to the east and the moon dropping quickly below the
western horizon.
On the road to independence it is worth noting a couple of key events occurring here and abroad. The Seven Years' War - sometimes called the French and Indian War - was a global conflict (1756-1763) between Britain and its allies against France and its allies. Here, in North America, it was a battle against the French and their Native allies for territorial control. Britain emerged victorious and gained control over all of Canada and land east of the Mississippi making it the dominant power in North America.
Nevertheless, not all was good for the British Empire. The conflict nearly doubled Britain's debt and in order to pay it off Parliament and the Crown imposed new taxes on their colonists. The Sugar Act, Stamp Act and Townshend Acts and tighter enforcement of foreign trade encouraged the growth of colonial resistance.
In order to avoid conflict with Native Americans, at the close of hostilities, Britain restricted any further westward settlement. Eager to expand into new lands the colonists were angered by the crown imposing this limitation.
The war also involved the cooperation of colonial forces with British regulars imparting a significant measure of military training for civilian farmers and merchants. Coincidentally, this training forced the colonies to cooperate with one another politically and otherwise; thus laying the groundwork for future collaboration against Britain. The war also left troops in North America and a standing army was viewed by the colonists as an occupying force.
Following the death of King George II, King George II acceded to the throne in 1760. He was only 22 years old and his reign marked a turning point for the colonies as his policies and ministers made George a central target for colonial blame and resentment.
October's full moon will occur this evening and tomorrow night. It is traditionally called the Hunter's Moon.
Before European settlement Native Americans knew it as that time of year when people would hunt deer and other animals to lay-up stores of food for the winter. The Anishinaabe people knew it as the Falling Leaves Moon while the fall bird migration led the Cree to refer to it as the Migrating Moon With the arrival of frosts it has also been called the Ice Moon or Freezing Moon.
Image credit: Starry Night/Chris Vaughan
This full moon will
also be the first and smallest of three consecutivesupermoons
in 2025. It will appear about 4% larger and 13% brighter than an
average full moon (shown by the red circle), cross the sky from sunset
to sunrise, and will produce large tides around the world. Because this
full moon occurs nearest to the autumnal equinox in 2025, it is also the
Harvest Moon.
On the evenings around its full phase, the moon
normally rises about 50 minutes later than the previous night. But the
shallow slope of the evening ecliptic (and the moon's orbit) around the equinox
causes Harvest Moons to rise at almost the same time each night — only
delayed by as little as 10 minutes, depending on your latitude. This
phenomenon traditionally allowed farmers to work into the evening under
bright moonlight — hence the name.
Join the discussion LIVE as you learn: what makes a full moon a Harvest Moon, the science behind supermoons, tips for observing the Harvest Moon in your sky.
This livestream is perfect for beginners, stargazers, and anyone curious about the night sky.
Learn everything you need to know before the moon rises!
Commonly known as the Corn Moon - it is also known as the Fruit,
Barley, and Hungry Ghost Moon.
When the the moon rises tonight and tomorrow it will appear full on both Sunday and Monday evenings this time of year.
Prevention.com
The Farmer's Almanac first
published Native American names for the full Moons in the 1930s and
over the years these names have become widely known. Algonquin
tribes in what is now the northeastern states called this the Corn
Moon - as this was the time for gathering their main staple crops of
corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice.
European names for this
full Moon are the Fruit Moon, as a number of fruits ripen as the end
of summer approaches, and the Barley Moon, from the harvesting and
threshing of the barley.
This full Moon is also associated with the
Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival. The seventh month of the Chinese
calendar is the Ghost Month and a Full Moon is known as the Ghost Day
– when spirits, including those of deceased ancestors, come out to
visit the living.
August’s Full Moon is called the Sturgeon Moon because of the great
number of this huge freshwater fish that could once be found in lakes
and rivers in North America.
With the arrival of Europeans in North
America many of the Native American names for the astronomical
calendar were adopted and incorporated into the modern calendar.
Other names for this Full Moon include Grain Moon, Green Corn Moon,
Fruit Moon, and Barley Moon – inspiration for these names is
derived from the abundance of crops to be harvested this month.
The indigenous Anishinaabe people of the
Great Lakes region call it Manoominike-giizis, the Wild Rice Moon, or
Miine Giizis, the Blueberry Moon. The Cree Nation of central USA and
Canada calls the August full moon Ohpahowipîsim, the Flying Up Moon. The Iroquois of Eastern North America call it Seskéha, the
Freshness Moon.
Anyway, fingers-crossed for clear skies tonight and tomorrow.
The names associated with our full moons are frequently
derived from the names given by the indigenous peoples that inhabited North
America. The tribes used a calendar to
track the seasons by means of the names given to the return of a full
moon.The Ojibwe people of the Great Lakes region call this moon
Abitaa-niibini Giizis, the Halfway Summer Moon, or Mskomini Giizis, the
Raspberry Moon.
In
the northern hemisphere the full moon that greets
us today is called the Buck Moon in recognition of the rapidly-growing,
velvet-covered, antlers of the whitetail deer. As a consequence of summer storms it is sometimes called the Thunder Moon. It always shines in or near the stars of Sagittarius or Capricornus. It will appear at its fullest tonight and tomorrow night. Look for it to rise
in the east after sunset; highest at midnight and setting in the west at dawn.
With the arrival of European settlers two
additional monikers come to mind:the
Meade Moon which coincides the harvest of honey used to ferment this drink and
the Hay Moon as the first cuttings of cattle fodder occur.
Fingers-crossed for clear night skies and no skeeters.
Technically the full moon this month occurs tomorrow, Wednesday the 11th; although by all outward appearances it will look full this evening.
If you have an opportunity you might be able to spot the bright red star Antares (constellation Scorpio) adjacent to our lunar friend. If the brightness of the moon washes-out the star try to shift yourself so as to view it with the moon situated behind an object such as a utility pole. Antares should reveal itself.
The June moon - typically the last full moon
of spring or the first of summer - is traditionally called the Strawberry Moon. With origins traced to the Algonquin people
this was a sign to commence gathering wild strawberries.
Following European settlement alternate names
included the Meade moon and the Honey moon were introduced.
Because the Roman goddess
of marriage is Juno – namesake of this frequent month of marriages - hence we have the honeymoon. From June 5, 2020 at 11:30 PM there was this full Strawberry Moon.....
According to the Old Farmers Almanac we use full moon
names that were adopted during Native American and Colonial times to help track
the seasons.This practice is traced to
the Algonquin tribes who lived in the same areas as the Colonists. May’s
full Moon is known as the Flower Moon.It signifies the wildflowers that bloom in May.This includes wild iris, sundrops, marsh
marigold, violets and more that are found around here. The month of May also marked a period of
increased fertility and the warming days that made it safer to bear young.For that reason it is sometimes called the
Mother’s Moon.Other names include the Corn
Planting Moon, Leaf Budding Moon, Frog Moon and Milk Moon. The moon will appear full tonight and tomorrow night. Fingers-crossed
for clear viewing conditions.
March’s
full moon is frequently called the Full Worm Moon. The backstory is because of the earthworms that wriggle out of the ground as
the earth begins to thaw in March. As a consequence some Native
American Tribes referred to it as the Worm Moon and the return of
robins to feast on the emerging worms.
The
fact of the matter is that Northern tribes would not have embraced
this name for the March moon as there were no earthworms. A Southern
tribe maybe – but certainly not a Northern tribe.
Historically,
earthworms did not exist in the northern reaches of continental North
America. The ice sheets of the last glaciation wiped them out. All
of the earthworms and night crawlers we see nowadays were introduced
by European colonists – brought here in plant root balls and soil
used as ship ballast. That’s right – earthworms are an invasive species. But I digress.
Northern
American tribes such as the Shawnee tribe know this as the Sap Moon -
a reminder for the tribes that they can begin tapping maple trees for
the making of syrup.
In
general, March’s full moon is known as a herald for the beginning
of spring and new agricultural cycles. The European settlers referred
to this as the Lenten Moon and as a way to measure the progress of their
crops. They called it the Storm Moon if the weather was inclement –
an indicator their crops might fail. Under ideal growing conditions
they called it the Rugged Moon – a sign of a successful harvest
that year.
One
of its other names is the Chaste Moon, symbolizing the purity of
early spring. The Pueblo tribe named it the Moon When the Leaves
Break Forth, The Cree called it the Goose Moon, while in Shoshone culture it was known as the Warming
Moon. The Ojibwa called it the the Crows Come Back Moon, after the crows and other
birds that appear as winter draws to a close. It is also called the Crust Moon, because of the snow that becomes crusty when
it thaws in the sun and freezes in the moonlight.
The moon will be at its fullest tomorrow evening although to the casual observer it will appear full this evening.
There's a bonus this year; a total lunar eclipse. This full moon will pass directly through the Earth's umbral shadow producing a total lunar eclipse visible across the Americas and a partial eclipse in the Pacific, Western Europe and Africa. At my latitude the action will unfold around 10:30 tonight with the first "bite" out of the moon beginning around midnight. At maximum eclipse, 2 AM, it will appear reddened - a Blood Moon.
According
to Native American tradition January's full moon is also known as a Wolf Moon. Legend suggests that wolves howled more at this time of year due to winter hunger. European settlers also knew this as the Old Moon or Moon After Yule
Wolves
have made their presence known around here on very rare occasion and
what I know for sure is that with all the dang deer on the landscape if
any have found their way across the ice to the peninsula they will not
be hungry. I fully expect that any howling I hear this evening will be
from the resident coyotes. Like their larger wolf brethren any vocalizations will be social in nature - locating pack members, reinforcing their familial bonds, defining territory and such.
NASA image
Prior
to European settlement the Lakota people know this as the Hard Moon,
the Cree called this the Cold Moon, the Ojibwe of the Great Lakes Region called this the Great Spirit Moon and the Assiniboine fittingly refer
to this as the Center Moon - the demarcation of mid-winter.
Watch
for the moon to rise from the east at sunset tonight and tomorrow. As a bonus, the bright red planet Mars will be shining just to the moon's lower left (or celestial east).
It
will reach its highest point around midnight. If you're up for any reason while the moon is high in the night sky be sure to observe that a winter full moon climbs as high in the heavens as the summer noonday sun. On a clear winter night you can see your shadow by the light of the moon!
If you are an early riser
you can locate the moon above the western horizon before sunrise.
Fingers-crossed for cold, clear, winter night skies.
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