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When is the next full moon 2023? Dates revealed for every full moon throughout the year – including a supermoon and a lunar eclipse
- Full moons occur for about an eerie 29.5 days when the moon is illuminated by the sun’s rays
- MailOnline reveals the full list of full moons to expect in 2023
Skygazers around the world have already been treated to several full moons this year, from the Wolf Moon to the Pink Moon.
A full moon occurs when the entire side of the moon facing Earth is illuminated by the sun’s rays, making it look like a full sphere.
The phenomenon occurs approximately every 29.5 days, which is the time it takes for the moon to go through an entire lunar cycle.
The good news is that you won’t have to wait long for the next full moon.
Here’s everything you need to know, including what a full moon is and when the next one is.
Skygazers around the world have already been treated to several full moons this year, from the Wolf Moon to the Pink Moon
What is a Full Moon?
Although the moon itself does not produce light, we can see parts of our lunar satellite when it is illuminated by other objects.
“Like the Earth, the Moon has a day side and a night side, which change as the Moon rotates,” NASA explains.
“The sun always illuminates half of the moon while the other half remains dark, but how much of that illuminated half we can see changes as the moon travels through its orbit.”
During a full moon, we come as close as possible to seeing the sun’s illumination on the entire day side of the moon.
“The moon is opposite the sun as seen from Earth, revealing the day side of the moon,” NASA added.
A full moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise.
“The Moon will appear full for a few days.”
How often does a full moon occur?
A full moon occurs approximately every 29.5 days.
‘The phases of the moon and the months of the year are inextricably linked – the word ‘month’ is even derived from the word ‘moon’,’ explains Royal Museums Greenwich.
During a full moon, we come as close as possible to seeing the sun’s illumination on the entire day side of the moon
“A month was originally defined as 29 or 30 days, roughly equivalent to the 29.5-day lunar cycle.
‘However, some of our calendar months were later supplemented with extra days, so that 12 months would make a full solar year of 365 days.
‘Because our modern calendar doesn’t quite match the phases of the moon, we sometimes have more than one full moon in a month. This is commonly known as a blue moon.”
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon is the Flower Moon on May 5, which is also a penumbral lunar eclipse.
“If you don’t know this is happening, you might miss it,” NASA explained.
“The moon travels through the Earth’s penumbra, or the faint outer part of its shadow.
“The moon dims so little it’s hard to see.”
Here’s the full list of full moons to expect in 2023:
May 5 (6:34 p.m.) – Flower Moon (penumbral lunar eclipse)
June 4 (4:41 a.m.) – Strawberry moon (super moon)
July 3 (12:38 p.m.) – Buck Moon
August 1 (7:31 PM) – Sturgeon moon
August 31 (2:35 a.m.) – Blue Moon
September 29 (10:57 a.m.) – Corn/harvest moon
October 28 (9:24 PM) – Hunters Moon
November 27 (9:16 a.m.) – Beaver Moon
December 27 (00:33 am) – Cold moon