Other Names
In myth and folklore the full moon of each month is given a name. There are many variations.
The Farmers' Almanac version, and NASA version, are as follows:
- January – Wolf moon
- February – Ice moon
- March – Storm moon
- April – Pink moon
- May – Hare moon or Flower moon
- June – Strawberry moon
- July – Buck moon
- August – Sturgeon moon
- September – Harvest moon
- October – Hunter's moon
- November – Beaver moon
- December – Cold moon
The July full moon may also be known as the thunder moon, and the March one as the raccoon moon.
The third full moon in a season with four full moons is called a blue moon, as described in the Maine Farmers' Almanac. Until recently it was commonly misunderstood that the second full moon in a month was the blue moon. However, it was recently discovered by Sky & Telescope magazine and reported on NPR that the interpretation of a blue moon as the second full moon of the month was erroneously reported in an issue of Sky & Telescope dating back to 1946 and then perpetuated by other media.
Read more about this topic: Hunter's Moon
Famous quotes containing the word names:
“Shut out that stealing moon,
She wears too much the guise she wore
Before our lutes were strewn
With years-deep dust, and names we read
On a white stone were hewn.”
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)
“Tonight there are only the winter stars.
The sky is no longer a junk-shop,
Full of javelins and old fire-balls,
Triangles and the names of girls.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)