How To: Observe the Full Moons in 2011 (Lunar Calendar)

When's the next full moon?

Every time I've looked at the moon, I've wondered if it was full.  Sometimes it looked like it was, but it's really hard to tell for sure unless you know the exact date of the full moon.  Seriously, there's at a couple days before and after the full moon that could easily pass as full.  At least, to someone like me who isn't naturally in tune with the moon's cycle (and doesn't have perfect vision).

That's why I've compiled this little lunar calendar.  So folks like me and you can know when a full moon's a full moon.  The Wolf Moon has already passed this year, but you still have time to check out the Ice Moon in February and the other ten full moons of 2011.

All of the dates below in the lunar calendar 2011 are the exact dates and times of the moon phases, and are all in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).  And aside from the dates and times, there's also a list of all of the common names given for each full moon, based on different cultures.

Many ancient calendars were actually lunar-based, so they had thirteen months, and to this day, several holidays are still dated according to the moon's phase (Easter, Passover and Ramadan).  Many ancient cultures named the full moons, according to the time of year.  [via BellaOnline]

For instance, the Egg Moon (the full moon before Easter) would be the first moon after March 21, and the Lenten Moon would be the last moon on or before March 21. Modern practice, however, is to assign the traditional names based on the Gregorian calendar month in which the full moon falls. This method frequently results in the same name as the older method would, and is far more convenient to use.  [via Wikipedia]

If you're also interested in learning some general astronomy facts about lunar eclipses, click here.

Step 1 January 2011 - Wolf Moon

Also Old Moon, Quiet Moon, Moon after Yule, Ice Moon.

• New Moon - 4 January 2011 - 09:03:48
• First Quarter - 12 January 2011 - 11:32:36
• Full Moon - 19 January 2011 - 21:22:31
• Last Quarter - 26 January 2011 - 12:58:24

Step 2 February 2011 - Ice Moon

Also Wolf Moon, Snow Moon, Moon of Ice, Hunger Moon, Storm Moon.

• New Moon - 3 February 2011 - 02:31:50
• First Quarter - 11 February 2011 - 07:19:27
• Full Moon - 18 February 2011 - 08:36:46
• Last Quarter - 24 February 2011 - 23:27:31
  

Step 3 March 2011 - Storm Moon

Also Lenten Moon, Moon of Winds, Worm Moon, Crow Moon, Crust Moon, Sugar Moon, Sap Moon, Chaste Moon.

• New Moon - 4 March 2011 - 20:47:02
• First Quarter - 12 March 2011 - 23:46:07
• Full Moon - 19 March 2011 - 18:11:08
• Last Quarter - 26 March 2011 - 12:08:25

Step 4 April 2011 - Growing Moon

Also Egg Moon, Pink Moon, Sprouting Grass Moon, Fish Moon, Seed Moon, Waking Moon.

• New Moon - 3 April 2011 - 14:33:26
• First Quarter - 11 April 2011 - 12:06:28
• Full Moon - 18 April 2011 - 02:45:04
• Last Quarter - 25 April 2011 - 02:47:55

Step 5 May 2011 - Hare Moon

Also Milk Moon, Flower Moon, Bright Moon, Corn Planting Moon, Corn Moon.

• New Moon - 3 May 2011 - 06:51:48
• First Quarter - 10 May 2011 - 20:34:02
• Full Moon - 17 May 2011 - 11:09:43
• Last Quarter - 24 May 2011 - 18:53:14

Step 6 June 2011 - Flower Moon

Also Moon of Horses, Strawberry Moon, Rose Moon, Hot Moon, Planting Moon, Mead Moon.

• New Moon - 1 June 2011 - 21:03:42
• First Quarter - 9 June 2011 - 02:11:47
• Full Moon - 15 June 2011 - 20:14:37
• Last Quarter - 23 June 2011 - 11:49:20

Step 7 July 2011 - Hay Moon

Also Buck Moon, Moon of Claiming, Thunder Moon, Mead Moon.

• New Moon - 1 July 2011 - 08:54:59
• First Quarter - 8 July 2011 - 06:30:33
• Full Moon - 15 July 2011 - 06:40:39
• Last Quarter - 23 July 2011 - 05:03:03
• New Moon - 20 July 2011 - 18:40:55

Step 8 August 2011 - Corn Moon

Also Grain Moon, Sturgeon Moon, Red Moon, Green Corn Moon, Lightning Moon, Dog Moon.

• First Quarter - 6 August 2011 - 11:09:27
• Full Moon - 13 August 2011 - 18:58:39
• Last Quarter - 21 August 2011 - 21:55:38
• New Moon - 29 August 2011 - 03:05:12

Step 9 September 2011 - Harvest Moon

Also Fruit Moon, Corn Moon, Barley Moon, Singing Moon.

• First Quarter - 4 September 2011 - 17:40:28
• Full Moon - 12 September 2011 - 09:27:50
• Last Quarter - 20 September 2011 - 13:39:47
• New Moon - 27 September 2011 - 11:09:43

Step 10 October 2011 - Hunter's Moon

Also Harvest Moon, Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, Blood Moon.

• First Quarter - 4 October 2011 - 03:16:11
• Full Moon - 12 October 2011 - 02:06:57
• Last Quarter - 20 October 2011 - 03:31:36
• New Moon - 26 October 2011 - 19:56:54

Step 11 November 2011 - Snow Moon

Also Hunter's Moon, Beaver Moon, Frost Moon, Dark Moon.

• First Quarter - 2 November 2011 - 16:39:14
• Full Moon - 10 November 2011 - 20:17:24
• Last Quarter - 18 November 2011 - 15:10:15
• New Moon - 25 November 2011 - 06:10:50

Step 12 December 2011 - Winter Moon

Also Oak Moon, Cold Moon, Frost Moon, Long Night's Moon, Moon Before Yule.

• First Quarter - 2 December 2011 - 09:53:23
• Full Moon - 10 December 2011 - 14:37:34
• Last Quarter - 18 December 2011 - 00:48:52
• New Moon - 24 December 2011 - 18:06:00

* Calendar pictures from fullmooncalendar.net.  To see more full moon cycles, for previous years and future ones, just go to their website.

* Exact dates from Lunaf.com.