Whether you’re just starting as a sky-watcher or have been at it for decades, the full moon’s rise is a monthly highlight. Many people make a mess of observing the full moon, merely attempting to see it when it’s full, usually high in the sky and too bright to look at.
The key is to catch it at the moment of moonrise when it appears in a blaze of orange on the eastern horizon. Only then will you see it at its apparent largest and most dramatic as it emerges from a landscape around dusk and setting at around dawn.
Rising opposite the sunset, high in the sky around midnight and setting opposite the sunrise, 2024, there will be 12 full moons—including four “supermoons,” two lunar eclipses and one “blue moon.”
Here are all the dates of the 12 full moons in 2024, including what’s unique about each one:
1. ‘Wolf Moon’
When: Thursday, January 25 (17:54 UTC/12:54 p.m. EST)
Best seen: moonrise on Thursday, January 25 (North America) and Friday, January 26 (Europe)
The first full moon of 2024 and the second of winter in the northern hemisphere, the “Wolf Moon”—also known as the “Quiet Moon” and the “Moon After Yule”—is one of the highest-hanging of the year.
2. ‘Small Snow Moon’
When: Saturday, February 24 (12:30 UTC/7:30 a.m. EST)
Best seen: moonrise on Saturday, February 24
The second full moon of 2024 and the third of winter in the northern hemisphere, the “Snow Moon”—also known as the “Hungry Moon” and the “Storm Moon”—will be the farthest from Earth in 2024 (apogee). Therefore, it will be the smallest—the opposite of a “supermoon.”
3. ‘Worm Moon Lunar Eclipse’
When: Monday, March 25 (7:00 UTC/3:00 a.m. EDT)
Best seen: moonrise on Sunday, March 24 (North America) and Monday, March 25 (Europe)
The third full moon of 2024 and the first of spring in the northern hemisphere, the “Worm Moon”—also known as the “Crow Moon” and the “Lenten Moon”—will move through the Earth’s outer shadow in space. A slight penumbral lunar eclipse will result for the night side of Earth, including North and South America, Europe, East Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
4. ‘Pink Moon’
When: Tuesday, April 23 (23:48 UTC/7:48 p.m. EDT)
Best seen: moonrise on Tuesday, April 23
The fourth full moon of 2024 and the second of spring in the northern hemisphere, the “Pink Moon”—also known as the “Egg Moon” and the “Awakening Moon”—will mark the first day of the Jewish festival of Passover (Pesach). This full moon signals the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, the first of the Hebrew year.
5. ‘Flower Moon’
When: Thursday, May 23 (13:53 UTC/9:53 a.m. EDT)
Best seen: moonrise on Wednesday, May 22 (North America) and Thursday, May 23 (Europe)
The fifth full moon of 2024 and the third of spring in the northern hemisphere, the “Flower Moon”—also known as the “Milk Moon” and the “Hare Moon”—will appear close to the red supergiant star Antares in the constellation Scorpius.
6. ‘Strawberry Solstice Moon’
When: Friday, June 21 (1:07 UTC/9:07 p.m. EDT)
Best seen: moonrise on Friday, June 21
The sixth full moon of 2024 and the first of summer in the northern hemisphere, the “Strawberry Moon”—also known as the “Hot Moon” and the “Planting Moon”—will occur the day after June’s solstice. It will be the latest to rise and the lowest-hanging full moon of the year in the northern hemisphere.
7. ‘Buck Moon’
When: Sunday, July 21 (10:17 UTC/6:17 a.m. EDT)
Best seen: moonrise on Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21
The seventh full moon of 2024 and the second of summer in the northern hemisphere, the “Buck Moon”—also known as the “Thunder Moon” and the “Hay Moon”— will be another particularly low and late-rising full moon.
8. ‘Super Sturgeon Blue Moon’
When: Monday, August 19 (18:25 UTC/2:25 p.m. EDT)
Best seen: moonrise on Sunday, August 18 and Monday, August 19
The eighth full moon of 2024 and the third of summer in the northern hemisphere, the “Sturgeon Moon”—also known as the “Lynx Moon” and the “Lightning Moon”—will be what astronomers call a seasonal blue moon. That’s because it will be the third of four full moons in one astronomical season, which occurs only rarely. It will also be the first of four “supermoon” full moons in 2024, albeit the smallest. The night after it turns full, the moon will shine close to Saturn.
As a bonus, from North America the full moon will rise close to sunset on two successive evenings—so you get two chances to see this very special sight.
9. ‘Super Harvest Moon Eclipse’
When: Wednesday, September 18 (2:34 UTC/10:34 p.m. ET)
Best seen: moonrise on Tuesday, September 17 and Wednesday, September 18
Here’s an exceptional full moon to get outside and witness at moonrise and, again, there will be two evenings to view it. The ninth full moon of 2024 and the fourth and final of summer in the northern hemisphere, the “Harvest Moon”—the closest to the equinox—will move through the Earth’s outer shadow in space. On Wednesday, September 18 a slight partial lunar eclipse will result for the night side of Earth, including North and South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It will also be the second—and second-biggest—“supermoon” full moon of the year.
10. ‘Super Hunter’s Moon’
When: Thursday, October 17 (11:26 UTC/7:26 a.m. ET).
Best seen: moonrise on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18
If you must pick just one full moon to see at moonrise, make it this one. The tenth full moon of 2024 and the first of fall in the northern hemisphere, the “Hunter’s Moon”—also known as the “Falling Leaves Moon” and the “Blood Moon”—will be the third and largest, closest “supermoon” full moon of the year.
11. ‘Super Beaver Moon’
When: Friday, November 15 (21:28 UTC/4:28 p.m. ET).
Best seen: moonrise on Saturday, November 16
The eleventh and penultimate full moon of 2024 and the second of fall in the northern hemisphere, the “Beaver Moon”—also known as the “Frost Moon” and the “Mourning Moon”—is, technically speaking, a supermoon—2024’s last. However, it will be the third-smallest of 2024’s four “supermoons.”
12. ‘Cold Moon’
When: Sunday, December 15 (9:01 UTC/4:01 a.m. ET)
Best seen: moonrise on Sunday, December 15 and Monday, December 16
The twelfth and final full moon of 2024 and the third of fall in the northern hemisphere, the “Cold Moon”—also known as the “Long Nights Moon” and the “Moon Before Yule”—will be the highest-hanging of the year. That’s because the moon mirrors the sun’s path across the sky. Since the sun is at its lowest in the sky this month, as seen from the northern hemisphere, the full moon—opposite the sun—must be the highest. It will also be in the night sky for longer than any other full moon of the year.
I’m an expert on the night sky and author of Stargazing In 2024: 50 Easy Things To See In The Night Sky From North America. For the very latest on sky events please subscribe or check my main feed regularly for new articles.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
