BRITAIN’s skies have been illuminated by a Wolf Moon today as stargazers are treated to spectacular sights.
The annual lunar phenomenon – which occurs every January – was visible to many during the early hours as stunning photos captured the moon’s visibility across the country.
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
Amazing snaps caught the first full moon of 2022 as it rose over city monuments including St Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben.
Meanwhile, hikers were able to see the moon in all its glory as it appeared over the likes of Stonehenge and Glastonbury’s St Michael’s Tower.
And this evening stargazers have been urged to get out to see the lunar spectacle where visibility is said to be at its best.
The rare Wolf Moon also be at its largest during the night but will continue to look big tomorrow.
A Super Moon is a combination of two different astronomical effects.
It’s when a new or full Moon coincides with a perigee – the Moon’s closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit.
A Moon has to come within 90% of its closest approach to Earth to be formally defined as a Super Moon.
Most read in Tech
That means the Moon needs to come within 224,865 miles of Earth and be a full Moon to boot.
The name Full Wolf Moon is associated with early Native American tribes.
? Read our Full Moon live blog for the latest updates
The group are said to have observed hungry wolves howling outside their camps around the same time of year as this phenomenon.
The lunar event is also referred to as the Moon After Yule and the Old Moon.
11
11
11
11
How to spot the Full Wolf Moon
To spot the Wolf Moon at its fullest you should look for it again this evening. (January 17).
If there’s no clouds, it should be visible in an easterly direction from the afternoon but will be more visible after sunset when it gets dark.
In the UK you should look around 7pm because as it gets higher it will appear smaller.
The Wolf Moon will then reportedly peak at 11.48pm.
Issuing advice for stargazers in his full moon guide for January and February, NASA’s Gordon Johnston urged stargazers to see the phenomenon when can.
“Stay warm, but when the sky is clear, take advantage of these early nightfall’s and late sunrises to get out, look up, and share the wonders of the sky,” he said.
The different type of moons
Here are some of the most interesting moon phases and when to see them…
A Blue Moon refers to the occasion when a full Moon appears for the second time in the same month, this is very rare.
The Harvest Moon appears around the time of the autumnal equinox when farmers tend to do their main crop harvesting.
A Supermoon appears when it is at its closest point to Earth and therefore at its brightest.
A Blood Moon occurs during a total lunar eclipse.
Each month of the year actually has its own special full moon phenomenon, they are as follows:
- January: Wolf Moon
- February: Snow Moon
- March: Worm Moon
- April: Pink Moon
- May: Flower Moon
- June: Strawberry Moon
- July: Buck Moon
- August: Sturgeon Moon
- September: Full Corn Moon
- October: Hunter’s Moon
- November: Beaver Moon
- December: Cold Moon.
Stunning close-up of full ‘Wolf Moon’ rising in Kent, UK
