Moon

Native American gazing at March Full Moon. March Moon Names.

March Moon Names

March Moon Names March is a month of transition. The seasons are changing from winter to spring in the Northern Hemisphere. South of the equator it’s moving from summer to fall. All around the world, change is prevalent. This change is no better illustrated than in the names the Native American’s had for the March moon. Days grow longer as we progress into spring. The sun makes its way a little higher into the sky every day. For the tribes of the Northern and Great Plains, this could cause a problem. The bright sun would reflect off the white snow […]

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Full Snow Moon over snowy landscape

Full Snow Moon 2015

Winter hits its stride is in February, and with it typically comes heavy snow falls. It’s these snow falls that inspired the most common name for February’s Full Moon, The Full Snow Moon. During this time hunting would become very difficult and food scarce for some Native American tribes, giving this moon another one of its names, the Full Hunger Moon. This year’s Full Snow Moon occurs on February 3rd at 23:09 UTC.

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Full Beaver Moon

Full Beaver Moon 2014

For the American colonist and the Algonquin tribes the November Full Moon was know as the Full Beaver Moon. This was the time of year to prepare for the upcoming winter by setting beaver traps before the swamps froze. This would help ensure warm beaver furs to fend off the winter cold. Also, beavers are also very busy this time of year, preparing for winter.   The November Full Moon is also know as Frosty Moon. Full Beaver Moon arrives at November 6th, 22:23 GMT.

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Full Hunter's Moon

Full Hunter’s Moon 2014

The crops have been harvested and winter is coming. Time for the Full Hunter’s Moon. Native Americans named this moon as such because it was time to build up their stores for winter and the reaped field and fallen leaves made it easier to see their prey. The Hunter’s Moon, also known as Blood Moon and Sanguine Moon, was considered an important time and was celebrated with feasts by Native American’s and in Western Europe. The hunter hits his mark on October 8th, at 10:51 (GMT).

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Full Harvest Moon

Full Harvest Moon 2014

This year’s Harvest Moon is a special one. In fact, it is SUPER. The Full Moon that falls closest is closest to the Autumnal Equinox, is known as the Full Harvest Moon. This year the equinox falls on September 22nd and the full moon arrives the night of September 8th, crowning it this year’s Harvest Moon. Adding to the fun is that this month’s full moon is a supermoon. A supermoon occurs when the moon turns full less than a day after reaching perigee, when the Earth and moon are at their closest for the month.

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Fireball Meteor Shooting from the Constellation Perseus

Perseid Meteor Shower and a Supermoon

One of the best meteor showers of the year takes place this month.  It’s the Perseids, named for the constellation Perseus, where the shooting stars appear to radiate from.  This year the shower is at it’s maximum during the night and morning hours of August 12-13th. During a normal year 60 to 100 shooting stars per hour can be seen at its peak.  This year, though, it could be different. The moon will be near full during the meteor shower.  On top of that, it will be a supermoon, which will be 14% bigger and 30% brighter than an average

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Full Sturgeon Moon

Full Sturgeon Moon 2014

Full Sturgeon Moon? Sounds like something fishy is going on! That is one of the names given to the August Full Moon, which occurs on August 10th at 18:10 Universal Time (UT). The Algonquin tribes of North America gave this month’s full moon this name because it is during this time that sturgeons, a large fish found in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, are most easily caught. Sturgeons were considered the royalty of fishes by the Native people who lived in the Great Lakes region and a delicacy because of their meaty flesh. The August Full Moon is known

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