Full Moon
At full moon the entire sunlit face points toward Earth, so the disk looks round and bright from sunset to sunrise.
Next Full Moon
Hunter's Moon
in 4 days
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- in 4 days
Hunter's Moon
- in 33 days
Beaver Moon
- in 63 days
Cold Moon
- in 92 days
Wolf Moon
- in 121 days
Snow Moon
- in 151 days
Worm Moon
- in 180 days
Pink Moon
- in 210 days
Flower Moon
- in 240 days
Strawberry Moon
- in 269 days
Buck Moon
How this phase works
The Moon sits opposite the Sun in our sky. Sunlight strikes the near side head on, so phases like waxing gibbous grow into a fully lit disk, then wane after the peak.
What you see in the sky
The full moon washes out faint stars but shows subtle color differences on its surface. A lunar halo can appear when ice crystals in high cloud bend moonlight.
Clouds and visibility
Thin high cloud can create a bright ring around the Moon. Low thick cloud blocks the view. Broken cloud can make moonlit landscapes change minute by minute.
Moonrise and moonset
Full moon rises near sunset and sets near sunrise. Moonrise low on the horizon often looks larger, but that is the Moon illusion, a trick of perception. The Moon is the same size in the sky.
Viewing tips
Watch moonrise against a distant skyline for a classic view. Let your eyes adjust for a few minutes and the surface detail gets easier to pick out. A moon filter helps with telescopes.
Photography tips
Expose for the bright disk or use HDR to keep foreground detail. Rising full moons pair well with landmarks. A telephoto compresses the horizon glow.
Folklore and traditional names
Traditional monthly names such as Harvest Moon or Cold Moon apply to the full moon nearest a calendar month or season. Blue moon labels refer to an extra full moon in a season or month, not color.
Tides and other effects
Spring tides peak near full moon when the Sun and Moon pull together. Bright nights can affect nocturnal animals and outdoor lighting plans.
Pick any place on Airpult to see tonight's cloud cover, hourly conditions and moonrise and moonset times.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon date and time appear at the top of this page, with traditional names when they apply.
Why does the full moon look orange near the horizon?
Moonlight passes through more air near the horizon, which scatters blue light and leaves warmer tones, similar to a sunset.
Is the full moon always perfectly full?
The instant of greatest fullness lasts a moment, but the disk looks round for about a day on either side to most observers.