It’s almost time to let out a big howl. The first full moon of 2021 — nicknamed the “wolf moon” — will be shining brightly in the night sky on Thursday, Jan. 28.
The wolf moon will officially reach its fullest phase at 2:16 p.m. Eastern time Thursday, so it will be 98% full Wednesday night, 100% full Thursday night and 99% full Friday night.
In case you’re wondering about the origin of the January moon’s scary-sounding nickname, many believe the “wolf moon” was coined by Native American tribes that would often hear packs of hungry wolves howling on cold and snowy nights in the middle of winter.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac says the hunger theory might be off-base.
“It was traditionally thought that they howled due to hunger, but there is no evidence for this,” the publication says. “However, wolves do tend to howl more often during winter months, and generally howl to define territory, locate pack members, and gather for hunting.”
The full January "wolf moon" will be shining in the sky on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021.Pixabay
Other nicknames for the January full moon
All full moons have generated a variety of nicknames dating back to the days when Native American tribes and Colonial Americans would name each moon based on weather conditions, farming routines and hunting trends during that time of year.
Although the “wolf moon” is the most common nickname for the full January moon, it also has been known as the “cold moon,” the “old moon,” the “great spirit moon,” or the “moon after Yule,” according to the Farmers’ Almanac and the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Some tribes referred to the full January moon as the “snow moon,” but that nickname is more common for the February full moon.
Sky watchers will be treated to three supermoons in 2021. Pictured here is a jet passing in front of a supermoon over the Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange in November 2016. NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
3 supermoons and lunar eclipses in 2021
The January wolf moon is the first of 12 full moons that will appear in 2021. (Last year, we had 13 full moons, because two appeared in October, including one on Halloween.)
Three of this year’s full moons will be “supermoons,” and one will be a seasonal blue moon — the third of four full moons appearing during the same season. In addition, two lunar eclipses will occur in 2021: A total lunar eclipse on May 26 and a partial lunar eclipse on Nov. 19.
The three supermoons — full moons that appear to be slightly bigger and brighter than a typical full moon because of their closer orbit to Earth — will be glowing in the sky during consecutive months: April, May and June.
Note: If you are unable to view the chart above on your screen, click here to see it.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.
Science - Latest - Google News
January 27, 2021 at 11:00PM
https://ift.tt/39oU0vO
Full January wolf moon of 2021 to shine in the sky this week - NJ.com
Science - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/2Kb7H4e
https://ift.tt/3ceUkwc
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Full January wolf moon of 2021 to shine in the sky this week - NJ.com"
Post a Comment