When is January's Wolf Moon? 2024's first full moon is finally here

The first full moon of the year is hanging in the sky on Thursday, January 25, for lunar lovers and skygazers to enjoy as the month comes to an end.

As the weather perks up following Storm Isha and Storm Jocelyn, January’s Wolf Moon will watch over us from 5pm until long into the night and, weather permitting, will be glowing above us in the inky sky.

Why is it called the Wolf Moon?

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Wolf Moon is thought to have gained its name from Native Americans, who would hear wolves howling around this time after growing hungry during the long winter season.

No wolves this year (not in the UK anyway), but the haunting name remains. This full moon is also known as Stay Home Moon, Quiet Moon and Severe Moon, which really accentuate the cold, dreary weather as the Moon provides the only source of limited natural light for well over 12 hours.

How to spot the Wolf Moon

The Moon will rise around 2pm, and weather dependent may be visible during daylight hours.

It will rise around 44 degrees northeast, but if it’s a clear sky, you won’t need those specifics – it will be pretty easy to see once the sun sets around 4.30pm.

However, with visual aids such as binoculars or a telescope, you can see the lunar landscape in magnificent detail which is always the perfect way to begin stargazing.

And if you do want to get more technical though, this year’s Wolf Moon is pretty exciting, because it will sit directly beneath the stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini, which can be spotted near the constellation of Orion.

The two stars will look vertical relative to each other, creating a perfect scenic image for budding astrophotographers.

This is the first full moon of 2024, and marks the moment when the Moon’s Earth-facing side is fully illuminated by the Sun.

The Moon reflects light back to Earth to provide the crystal clear version we see of it when the weather is good.

When is the next full moon in 2024?

On average, it takes around 29 and a half days for the Moon to complete one cycle, with around seven and a half days between its four main phases: new moon, first-quarter moon, full moon and last quarter moon.

The moon goes through eight phases in total, starting with the new moon – which cannot be seen because the far side of the Moon is illuminated and the Earth’s side is in the shadow.

But this full moon is slightly different.

More Trending

This cycle will see around 8.2 days between the full Wolf Moon and the third quarter moon on February 2, making it the longest moon phase of 2024.

The Moon’s elliptical orbit means it does not travel in a perfect circle, and its distance from Earth varies, so no lunar orbit is the same.

This is also why some full moons are known as supermoons, because they’re closer to Earth than others, appearing much bigger and brighter in the sky.

The next full moon is aptly named the Snow Moon, appearing in February, followed by the Worm Moon in March and the Pink Moon in April.

MORE : Japan becomes fifth nation to land on moon – but mission could be in danger

MORE : The Full Moon in Cancer lets you heal and be nurtured – here’s what your star sign can expect

MORE : Scientists warn Nasa that their plans could destroy the moon

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Share your views in the comments below