GuidesHow to See Your Named Star: Apps, Telescopes and Tips
Named stars are too faint to see with the eye alone. Here is how to find yours.
Full Moon Names by Month and What They Mean
Wolf Moon, Pink Moon, Sturgeon Moon. Every full moon name and what it means.
Short answer: Each month's full moon has a traditional name. The best-known list is January Wolf, February Snow, March Worm, April Pink, May Flower, June Strawberry, July Buck, August Sturgeon, September Corn or Harvest, October Hunter's, November Beaver and December Cold Moon. Most come from Native American traditions, later adopted by colonial Americans.
Full moon names by month
| Month | Name | Why (traditional meaning) |
|---|---|---|
| January | Wolf Moon | Wolves heard howling in midwinter |
| February | Snow Moon | Heavy snow |
| March | Worm Moon | Earthworms appear as soil thaws |
| April | Pink Moon | Early pink spring flowers |
| May | Flower Moon | Flowers everywhere |
| June | Strawberry Moon | Strawberry harvest |
| July | Buck Moon | Deer grow new antlers |
| August | Sturgeon Moon | Sturgeon fishing season |
| September | Corn Moon or Harvest Moon | Harvest time |
| October | Hunter's Moon | Hunting before winter |
| November | Beaver Moon | Beavers build for winter |
| December | Cold Moon | Long, cold nights |
Source: Royal Museums Greenwich. Other cultures have their own names. These are seasonal names from the northern hemisphere, so they won't match the seasons in Australia or South Africa.
What is the Harvest Moon?
It's the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, so it's usually September, sometimes October. It rises soon after sunset for a few nights in a row, which once gave farmers extra light.
What is the Hunter's Moon?
The full moon after the Harvest Moon.
What is a Blue Moon?
Two meanings. Either the second full moon in one calendar month, or the third of four full moons in one season. It isn't actually blue.
What is a supermoon?
A full moon that happens near the Moon's closest point to Earth. It looks a little bigger and brighter than usual. Most people won't notice the size difference without a side-by-side photo.
Moon message ideas for a star gift
- "I love you to the Moon and back."
- "Under the Harvest Moon, I chose you."
- "Our Strawberry Moon."
Make a full moon night special
A full moon is bright, so it's not great for faint stars. It's perfect for a walk and a gift, though. Give the certificate, then on a darker night use Find My Star to look for the named star. Shooting stars more your thing? See meteor shower dates.
If a full moon marks a date that matters, you can name a star for that night. Read can you name a star first, and see constellation facts for gift messages.
Questions people ask
Why is it called the Sturgeon Moon?
North American fishing tribes named it because sturgeon appeared in numbers in August.
Are moon names official?
No. They're traditional names, not scientific ones.
Gift idea: the Signature & Star Map.
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Name a star for someone you love.
A real star, recorded in our register, with a certificate to keep.
Choose their gift set