Staring at the moon is one of those universal human glitches. We just do it. Whether you're stumbling out of a bar at 2 AM or taking the trash out, that glowing orb hits differently when it's at 100% illumination. But here is the thing: 2024 was a weirdly specific year for lunar cycles. We had a series of "Supermoons," a partial lunar eclipse, and even a seasonal Blue Moon that threw people for a loop.
If you’ve ever wondered why your Instagram feed is suddenly full of "Wolf Moon" captions in January, it’s not just some modern influencer trend. These full moon names 2024 users tracked are actually rooted in a deep, messy history of survival, agriculture, and cross-cultural borrowing. Basically, the Old Farmer’s Almanac and various Native American tribes—like the Algonquin and Dakota—used these names as a shorthand calendar. It was a way to track the seasons when nobody had a smartphone to tell them winter was coming.
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The heavy hitters: Winter and Spring lunar cycles
The year started with the Wolf Moon on January 25. Why wolves? Honestly, it’s because they were hungry. During the dead of winter in the northern hemisphere, wolves would howl more frequently outside villages, desperate for food. It sets a bit of a grim tone for the year, doesn't it?
Then February brought the Snow Moon. This one is pretty self-explanatory. February is historically the month with the heaviest snowfall in many parts of North America. Some tribes also called it the Hunger Moon. If you’ve ever been stuck in a blizzard in the Northeast, you get the vibe.
By the time March rolled around, we hit the Worm Moon. This is where things get a bit more optimistic. As the ground thaws, earthworm casts start appearing, beckoning the birds back. Interestingly, it’s also the Lenten Moon if it’s the last full moon of winter. April followed with the Pink Moon, named not because the moon actually turns fuchsia—sorry to disappoint—but after Phlox subulata, a pink wildflower that blankets the ground in early spring.
The 2024 Blue Moon anomaly
Let’s talk about the Sturgeon Moon on August 19. This was a big deal. Not only was it a Supermoon—meaning the moon was at its closest point to Earth (perigee)—but it was also a Seasonal Blue Moon.
Most people think a Blue Moon is the second full moon in a single calendar month. That’s the "monthly" definition. But the older, more traditional definition is the third full moon in a season that has four. That’s exactly what happened in the summer of 2024. The Sturgeon Moon gets its name from the giant fish found in the Great Lakes that were most easily caught during this time of year. It’s a bit of a rugged name for such a beautiful celestial event, but it's practical.
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Why the "Supermoon" craze actually matters
You probably noticed that from August through November, the moon looked absolutely massive. That’s because 2024 featured a "Supermoon quartet."
When the moon is at perigee while full, it appears about 14% larger and 30% brighter than a "Micromoon" (when it’s at its furthest point, or apogee). Astronomer Fred Espenak, a retired NASA scientist often referred to as "Mr. Eclipse," tracks these cycles with extreme precision. While the visual difference can be subtle to the naked eye, the gravitational pull is real. High tides—often called perigean spring tides—are significantly higher during these windows.
The Harvest Moon on September 17 was the standout. Usually, the Harvest Moon is the name given to whichever full moon falls closest to the Autumnal Equinox. In 2024, it also featured a very slight partial lunar eclipse. Only about 8% of the moon was covered by the Earth's umbra (the darkest part of the shadow), so it looked like a tiny, dusty bite had been taken out of the top edge.
Late year highlights: Hunters and Beavers
October’s Hunter’s Moon arrived on the 17th. This was arguably the "biggest" Supermoon of the year. Historically, this moon signaled the time to go out and hunt to prep for the coming winter. Since the fields had been cleared during the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily see deer and other animals venturing out to find leftover scraps.
The Beaver Moon in November (the 15th) followed a similar logic. Beavers start prepping their dams for the freeze, and trappers historically used this time to set traps before the water turned to solid ice. It sounds a bit "National Geographic," but for the people who named these moons, it was literally a matter of life and death.
Finally, we hit the Cold Moon on December 15. It’s high in the sky and stays above the horizon longer than most, mirroring the long, dark nights of the winter solstice.
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Putting the 2024 calendar into perspective
Here’s a quick rundown of how those dates actually fell. You'll notice they don't follow a perfect 30-day rhythm because a lunar cycle (synodic month) is roughly 29.5 days.
- January 25: Wolf Moon
- February 24: Snow Moon
- March 25: Worm Moon (Lunar Eclipse in the penumbral shadow)
- April 23: Pink Moon
- May 23: Flower Moon
- June 21: Strawberry Moon
- July 21: Buck Moon
- August 19: Sturgeon Moon (Supermoon and Blue Moon)
- September 17: Harvest Moon (Supermoon and Partial Eclipse)
- October 17: Hunter’s Moon (The year's largest Supermoon)
- November 15: Beaver Moon (Supermoon)
- December 15: Cold Moon
The Strawberry Moon in June is a fan favorite, named by the Algonquin tribes for the ripening of wild strawberries. If you were in Europe, you might have heard it called the Honey Moon or Mead Moon, which likely where the term "honeymoon" for newlyweds comes from, given the high volume of weddings in June.
Misconceptions and weird facts
One thing people get wrong? The "Blood Moon." In 2024, we didn't have a total lunar eclipse, which is the only time the moon actually turns red due to Rayleigh scattering (the same effect that makes sunsets red). People often use "Blood Moon" to describe any moon that looks a bit orange near the horizon, but that's just atmospheric dust and thickness. It’s not a formal lunar name.
Also, the "Black Moon." This isn't a 2024 thing, but it's the opposite of a Blue Moon—either a second new moon in a month or a month (usually February) missing a full moon entirely.
How to actually observe this stuff
If you want to catch the next cycle, don't just look up at the peak time. The "Moon Illusion" is your best friend. This is a psychological trick where the moon looks ginormous when it’s near the horizon because your brain is comparing it to trees or buildings.
Check a local moonrise calculator. Showing up 10 minutes before the moon actually clears the horizon is the secret. That golden hour glow combined with the magnification of the Earth's atmosphere makes for the best photos, even if you’re just using a basic smartphone.
Practical next steps for lunar enthusiasts
To make the most of your moon-watching, stop relying on generic weather apps that just give you a tiny icon. Download a dedicated moon phase app like My Moon Phase or Lumos. These provide the exact "azimuth"—the compass direction where the moon will rise—so you aren't staring at the East when you should be looking Southeast.
If you’re into photography, remember that the "Full Moon" actually looks flat in photos. The best time to see craters and topographical detail is actually a day or two before or after the full phase, when the "terminator line" (the shadow line) creates contrast across the lunar surface.
Invest in a pair of 10x50 binoculars. You don't need a $1,000 telescope to see the Sea of Tranquility or the Tycho crater. A steady hand and basic glass will show you a version of the moon that feels much more intimate than the blurry white dot on your phone screen. Keep an eye on the 2025 dates, as the cycle shifts about 11 days earlier each year, meaning next year's "Wolf Moon" will hit mid-January instead of the end of the month.