When, how do you see the wolf moon rise

On By Littum

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The first full moon of the year is about to rise in the sky.

Get ready to “howl” at the “wolf” moon, a celestial event named after the idea that wolves in the dark, cold months of winter make themselves heard extra at night.

Here’s everything to know about the full wolf moon, including more about its nickname and when to see it.

How did the Wolf Moon get its name?

The first full moon of the year is best known as the “wolf moon”, as the howls of wolves were more likely to be heard in winter, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

believed to have been brought to North America by European settlers, the name may be a bit of a misnomer.

While wolves certainly do howl, experts say there is no evidence that they do so at the moon or that its celestial phases have any effect on wolf calls. Rather, because wolves are nocturnal, so they are generally more active at night.

Wolves also do not howl because they are hungry, contrary to popular belief.

“Howls and other wolf vocalizations are heard in winter to locate pack members, strengthen social bonds, define territory and coordinate hunting,” according to the almanac.

When will the full wolf moon be visible? How to see it.

A moon appears to us “full” when the celestial body – Earth’s only natural satellite – is on the exact opposite side of our planet to the sun, making the moon’s face completely illuminated by the sun’s rays.

January’s full wolf moon reaches peak illumination on Monday, January 13 at 5:27 PM EST.

But the moon will also appear extra bright for about three days around the time of its peak illumination, from Sunday evening to Wednesday morning.

Look for January’s full moon to rise from the eastern horizon around sunset, according to NASA. At midnight, the wolf moon should shine bright and round overhead before disappearing at sunrise on the western horizon.

As a bonus, on the night of the full moon, the moon will pass in front of Mars and be visible for most of the continental United States, NASA says.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be in February.

On Wednesday, February 12, the snow moon will become visible, according to Astronomy.com.

Contributor: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

Eric Lagatta covers the latest and trending news for USA TODAY. Contact him at [email protected]