What is the Moon Called Tonight 2021?

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what the moon is called tonight? The moon goes through various phases and has different names associated with each phase. In this blog post, we will explore the names of the moon in 2021 and provide you with a comprehensive guide to the lunar calendar for the year.

Before we dive into the specific names of the moon by month, let’s first understand the basics of lunar phases. The moon has a 29.5-day cycle, which means it takes approximately 29.5 days for the moon to complete one orbit around the Earth. This cycle is divided into eight distinct phases:

1. New Moon: This is the phase when the moon is not visible at all. It occurs when the moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, with the dark side facing us.

2. Waxing Crescent: The first visible phase of the moon after the New Moon. During this phase, a small, crescent-shaped portion of the moon is visible.

3. First Quarter: This phase occurs when half of the moon is visible from Earth. It is called the “First Quarter” because it marks the completion of one-quarter of the moon’s orbit.

4. Waxing Gibbous: As the moon continues to orbit the Earth, the illuminated portion increases, and more than half of the moon becomes visible during this phase.

5. Full Moon: This is perhaps the most well-known phase of the moon. It occurs when the entire illuminated side of the moon is visible to us from Earth. The moon appears as a perfect circle during this phase.

6. Waning Gibbous: After the Full Moon, the illuminated portion starts decreasing, and the moon gradually moves towards its next phase.

7. Third Quarter: This phase occurs when half of the moon is visible, but on the opposite side of the First Quarter. It is called the “Third Quarter” as it marks three-quarters completion of the moon’s orbit.

8. Waning Crescent: This is the final visible phase before the New Moon. During this phase, only a small, crescent-shaped portion of the moon is visible, but it is getting smaller each day.

Now that we have a better understanding of the lunar phases, let’s look at the names of the moon by month in 2021.

January

In January, the names of the moon are influenced by Native American and early Colonial American traditions. The most common name for the January moon is the “Wolf Moon.” This name originated from the Native American belief that wolves howled more during this time due to hunger and extreme cold.

February

The February moon is commonly known as the “Snow Moon.” This name originates from the heavy snowfall usually experienced during this time of year.

March

The March moon is often referred to as the “Worm Moon.” This name comes from the fact that earthworms start to appear on the surface again as the ground thaws and spring approaches.

April

April’s moon is called the “Pink Moon.” Contrary to popular belief, the moon doesn’t actually appear pink during this time. The name “Pink Moon” comes from the pink wildflowers, known as phlox, that bloom during this month.

May

May’s moon is commonly known as the “Flower Moon.” This name reflects the blooming of flowers during this time of year.

June

The June moon is called the “Strawberry Moon.” This name originated from Native American tribes who believed it marked the time for harvesting wild strawberries.

July

July’s moon is referred to as the “Buck Moon.” The name relates to the growth of deer antlers, as July is a period when the antlers of bucks start to grow.

August

The August moon is known as the “Sturgeon Moon” as it coincides with the peak time for catching sturgeon, a type of fish found in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.

September

The September moon is called the “Harvest Moon.” Traditionally, this moon was named so because its bright light allowed farmers to work late into the night during the harvest season.

October

October’s moon is known as the “Hunter’s Moon.” This moon provided extra light for hunters to prepare for the winter ahead.

November

The November moon is commonly called the “Beaver Moon” as it was the time of year when beavers built their winter dams.

December

December’s moon is known as the “Cold Moon.” This name is quite self-explanatory as it represents the extremely cold weather experienced during this time.

In conclusion, the moon goes through various phases, each with its own unique name. These names have been passed down through generations and are deeply rooted in cultural and natural observations. Throughout 2021, you can observe the moon’s different names like the Wolf Moon, Snow Moon, Worm Moon, Pink Moon, Flower Moon, Strawberry Moon, Buck Moon, Sturgeon Moon, Harvest Moon, Hunter’s Moon, Beaver Moon, and Cold Moon. So, the next time you gaze up at the night sky, you’ll have a deeper understanding of what the moon is called tonight.