Rocky Star Astronomy

Moon Names

Month	Moon Name and Cross-quarter Day

January	Wolf Moon or Moon After Yule
February	Hunger, Snow, or Wolf Moon
	Cross-quarter - Ground Hog's Day, Feb. 2 (mid-Winter)
March	Crow , Lenten, or Sap Moon
Vernal Equinox	Egg Moon or Grass Moon when close to the equinox
May	Milk or Planting Moon
	Cross-quarter day May Eve (April 30),May 1 (May Day) = (mid-Spring). The Milky Way is as flat as possible on the horizon. Looking toward Cygnus (in the northeast) is in the direction of rotation and the Galactic Center is on the right.
June	Rose , Flower , or Strawberry Moon
Summer Solstice	"Honey Moon" when closest to Summer Solstice.
July	Hay or Thunder Moon
August	Grain or Green Corn Moon
	Cross-quarter is Llamas Day Aug. 1 (mid-Summer)
Autumnal Equinox	Fruit Moon or Harvest Moon when close to the equinox.
October	Hunter's Moon
	Cross-quarter day is Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, All Hallow's Eve, All Hallow's Day (mid-Autumn)
November	Beaver or Frosty Moon
December	Long Night Moon
Winter Equinox	Moon Before Yule

NOTES

1. A December full moon almost always takes the highest path in the sky of any full moon of the year. This is just the opposite of the full moon of June which rides lower than an other full moon of the year. Because the moon in June moves closer to the horizon, it is seen through thicker layers of atmosphere, therefore, there is more coloration which produces the golden, honey(moon) color. The December full moon rides high and has little coloration and appears silvery white, therefore, it floods the landscape with light. Around midnight, snow-scapes are quite brilliantly illuminated.

2. Blue Moon - When two full moons occur in the same month.

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1.	A December full moon almost always takes the highest path in the sky of any full moon of the year. This is just the opposite of the full moon of June which rides lower than an other full moon of the year. Because the moon in June moves closer to the horizon, it is seen through thicker layers of atmosphere, therefore, there is more coloration which produces the golden, honey(moon) color. The December full moon rides high and has little coloration and appears silvery white, therefore, it floods the landscape with light. Around midnight, snow-scapes are quite brilliantly illuminated.

2.	Blue Moon - When two full moons occur in the same month.