Wolf Moon 2023: How to see January's full Moon in the UK
January's spectacular full moon, also known as the Wolf Moon, will be visible in the UK on Friday 6th January 2023, at 11.07pm GMT.
A full moon occurs in the middle of its waxing (growing) and waning (shrinking) process.
"We see it as a full orb because the whole of the side of the Moon facing the Earth is lit up by the Sun's rays," explains the Royal Museums Greenwich.
The Wolf Moon is the first full moon of the new year, so it's definitely one to look out for.
Why is January's full moon called the Wolf Moon?
According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, it's thought January's moon was named the Wolf Moon as it was common to hear wolves howling at this time of year in some countries. It was believed that, in January, wolves howled because they were hungry and it was harder for them to hunt in winter. Now, it's known that wolves howl for a far wider variety of reasons.
January's full moon is also known as the Moon After Yule. This follows December's moon, (the Cold Moon), also known as the Moon Before Yule. This is based around the winter solstice on 21st December.
How can we see December's full moon?
As with viewing any full moon or astrological sighting, it's best to go to higher ground to see it in its full glory.
It's also advised to get as far away as you can from light pollution, as the darker the sky, the brighter the moon and the stars will shine.
Remember that moons rise in the east and set in the west and this moon will be at its fullest at 11.07pm GTM.
When will the next full moon be?
In line with the calendar, the next full moon will be in February. It will be at its brightest and peak illumination on Sunday 5th February, at 6.28pm GMT. This moon is known as the Snow Moon.
How many full moons do we have a year?
There's a full moon every 29.5 days, which is the length of time it takes for the moon to go through one whole lunar phase cycle. This roughly equates to one full moon per month, and so 12 a year. Although a calendar month and the moon's phases are not on the same timescale, they are closely linked, so much so that the word 'month' takes its root from the word 'moon'.
Some years, though, are lucky enough to have 13 full moons, meaning some months have two. This phenomenon is know as a Blue Moon – which is the second full moon within the same month. The last time we had a Blue Moon was October 2022.
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