Skywatchers will be treated to a dozen full moons in 2024, as well as a seasonal blue moon in August. Here's when they happen.

January 2024 - The Wolf Moon

The full Wolf Moon will shine on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. The moon's phases in January are:

• 🌗 Last Quarter: Jan. 4.

• 🌑 New Moon: Jan. 11.

• 🌓 First Quarter: Jan. 18.

• 🌕 Full Moon: Jan. 25.

Why is it called the Full Wolf Moon?

Wolves were believed to howl more in January as the first few weeks of winter cloaked the ground in frost and snow, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Other names for January's full moon from Native American tribes include the Center Moon, Freeze Up Moon and the Hard Moon.

When is the best time to see the full moon in January 2024?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 5:49 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, crossing the meridian at 12:37 a.m. before setting at 8:20 a.m. Friday.

February 2024 - Snow Moon

February's Snow Moon will glisten on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. The moon's phases for the rest of the month are:

• 🌗 Last Quarter: Feb. 2.

• 🌑 New Moon: Feb. 9.

• 🌓 First Quarter: Feb. 16.

• 🌕 Full Moon: Feb. 24.

Why is it called the Snow Moon?

It's no mystery February can be a time for heavy snow, writes the Old Farmer's Almanac. In the 1760s, they cite Captain Jonathan Carver visited a Native American tribe and wrote the Snow Moon was so named "because more snow commonly falls during this month than any other in the winter."

Granted, that depends on where you live.

Last year's winter in Central Indiana was uncommonly mild with barely a trace of snow in February. Both January and February had a combined average temperature of 38.7F, tying the 4th-highest in the area's 153-year record, according to a report by the National Weather Service.

Other names for February's full moon from Native American tribes include the Bald Eagle Moon, Hungry Moon and Groundhog Moon.

When is the best time to see the full moon in February 2024?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 6:47 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, crossing the meridian at 12:52 a.m. before setting at 7:46 a.m. Sunday.

March 2024 - Worm Moon

The full Worm Moon wriggles its way into the night sky on Monday, March 25, 2024. The moon's phases for the rest of the month are:

• 🌗 Last Quarter: March 3.

• 🌑 New Moon: March 10.

• 🌓 First Quarter: March 17.

• 🌕 Full Moon: March 25.

Why is it called the Worm Moon?

It was first believed, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the Worm Moon's name was derived from earthworms wriggling through March's warming soil, which heralded the first signs of spring as birds returned to feast on them. Perhaps the full moon in March should've been called the "Robin Moon."

However, more research revealed the name likely originates from notes taken by Captain Jonathan Carver, who in the 1760s visited Native American tribes and wrote that the "Worm Moon" refers to a species of beetle larvae that emerged from thawing bark around this time.

Other names for March's full moon from Native American tribes include the Crow Comes Back Moon, the Eagle Moon and the Sugar Moon.

When is the best time to see the full moon in March 2024?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 8:38 p.m. Monday, March 25, crossing the meridian at 1:50 a.m. before setting at 7:52 a.m. Tuesday.

April 2024 - Pink Moon

The Pink Moon glows on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The moon's phases for April are:

• 🌗 Last Quarter: April 2.

• 🌑 New Moon: April 8.

• 🌓 First Quarter: April 15.

• 🌕 Full Moon: April 23.

Why is it called the Pink Moon?

It would be neat if the moon turned a bright shade of pink for April, but that's not the origin of its name, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. The appearance of ground phlox, or "moss pink" was more prevalent in certain areas of North America at this time.

Other names for April's full moon from Native American tribes include the Breaking Ice Moon, Budding Moon, Sucker Moon, and the Moon When the Ducks Come Back.

When is the best time to see the full moon in April 2024?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 8:32 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, crossing the meridian at 1:08 a.m. before setting at 6:38 a.m. Wednesday.

May 2024 - Flower Moon

The Flower Moon blossoms on Thursday, May 23, 2024. The moon's phases in May are:

• 🌗 Last Quarter: May 1.

• 🌑 New Moon: May 8.

• 🌓 First Quarter: May 15.

• 🌕 Full Moon: May 23.

• 🌗 Last Quarter: May 30.

Why is it called the Flower Moon?

"April showers bring May flowers," as the saying goes. The full moon in May is a reflection of flowers blooming across large swaths of North America, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

Other names for May's full moon from Native American tribes include the Budding Moon, Frog Moon, and the Moon of Shedding Ponies.

When is the best time to see the full moon in May 2024?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 9:39 p.m. Thursday, May 23, crossing the meridian at 1:20 a.m. before setting at 6:03 a.m. Friday.

June 2024 - Strawberry Moon

A sweet Strawberry Moon will shine on Saturday, June 22, 2023. The moon's phases in June are:

• 🌑 New Moon: June 6.

• 🌓 First Quarter: June 14.

• 🌕 Full Moon: June 22.

• 🌗 Last Quarter: June 28.

Why is it called the Strawberry Moon?

Similar to the Pink Moon, June's Strawberry Moon takes its name from seasonal plant growth, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Many ripening berries were ready to be harvested around this time in the northeastern United States.

Other names for June's full moon from Native American tribes include the Birth Moon, Hot Moon, Blooming Moon, and the Green Corn Moon.

When is the best time to see the full moon in June 2024?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 10:31 p.m. Saturday, June 22, crossing the meridian at 1:58 a.m. before setting at 6:22 a.m. Sunday.

July 2024 - Buck Moon

The Buck Moon is set to charge into the sky on Sunday, July 21, 2024. The moon's phases in July are:

• 🌑 New Moon: July 5.

• 🌓 First Quarter: July 13.

• 🌕 Full Moon: July 21.

• 🌗 Last Quarter: July 28.

Why is it called the Buck Moon?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, a male deer's antlers were in full growth mode around this time.

Other names for July's full moon from Native American tribes include the Salmon Moon, Thunder Moon, and Halfway Summer Moon.

When is the best time to see the full moon in July 2024?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 9:52 p.m. Sunday, July 21, crossing the meridian at 1:44 a.m. before setting at 6:24 a.m. Monday.

August 2024 - Sturgeon Moon

A Sturgeon Moon will swim across the heavens on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. And because this is the third full moon of an astronomical season, and one that contains four full moons, the Sturgeon Moon is also a Blue Moon.

The moon won't turn blue though. While the moon has turned shades of blue in the past due to particles in the atmosphere, according to NASA, it's a rare event.

The moon's phases in August are:

• 🌑 New Moon: Aug. 4.

• 🌓 First Quarter: Aug. 12.

• 🌕 Full Moon: Aug. 19.

• 🌗 Last Quarter: Aug. 26.

Why is it called the Sturgeon Moon?

Native American tribes around the Great Lakes region and Lake Champlain were said to catch plenty of freshwater sturgeon around this time, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Some species of sturgeon can grow to massive sizes, such as the one found in British Columbia in 2022 believed to be 10 feet long and weighing close to 600 pounds.

Other names for August's full moon from Native American tribes include the Black Cherries Moon, Corn Moon, and Mountain Shadows Moon.

When is the best time to see the full moon in August 2024?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 8:54 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, crossing the meridian at 1:24 a.m. before setting at 6:34 a.m. Tuesday.

September 2024 - Harvest/Full Corn Moon

The Full Corn Moon, or Harvest Moon, should be high in the sky by Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The moon's phases in September are:

• 🌑 New Moon: Sept. 3.

• 🌓 First Quarter: Sept. 11.

• 🌕 Full Moon: Sept. 18.

• 🌗 Last Quarter: Sept. 24.

Why is it called the Full Corn Moon?

Late summer to early fall is a time for harvesting corn in much of the United States. Many Native American peoples traditionally referred to the full moons around August and September as "corn moons," according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. This year, the September moon is also 2024's Harvest moon, which happens around the autumnal equinox.

Other names for September's full moon from Native American tribes include Autumn Moon, Child Moon, Rutting Moon, and the Falling Leaves Moon.

When is the best time to see the full moon in September 2024?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 8:12 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, crossing the meridian at 1:47 a.m. before setting at 8 a.m. Thursday.

October 2024 - Hunter's Moon

The Hunter Moon is set to shine on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. The moon's phases in October are:

• 🌑 New Moon: Oct. 2.

• 🌓 First Quarter: Oct. 10.

• 🌕 Full Moon: Oct. 17.

• 🌗 Last Quarter: Oct. 24.

Why is it called the Hunter's Moon?

October's full moon in 2024 is called the "Hunter's Moon," but its name can change from year to year.

A Hunter's Moon, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, is the first full moon that occurs after a Harvest Moon, which lands around the autumnal equinox. The last time we had a Hunter's Moon in November was in 2017.

Other names for October's full moon from Native American tribes include the Drying Rice Moon, Freezing Moon, and Migrating Moon.

When is the best time to see the full moon in October 2024?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 7:04 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, crossing the meridian at 1:14 a.m. before setting at 8:06 a.m. Friday.

November 2024 - Beaver Moon

The Beaver Moon will make a splash on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. The moon's phases in November are:

• 🌑 New Moon: Nov. 1.

• 🌓 First Quarter: Nov. 9.

• 🌕 Full Moon: Nov. 15.

• 🌗 Last Quarter: Nov. 23.

Why is it called the Beaver Moon?

The Beaver Moon takes its name from early Native American tribes as well as American colonists, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, when beavers begin sheltering in their lodges after gathering enough food to last the winter. Fur trappers, the almanac stated, used this time also to hunt beavers for their pelts.

Other names for September's full moon from Native American tribes include the Whitefish Moon, Frost Moon, and the Deer Rutting Moon.

When is the best time to see the full moon in November 2024?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 5:06 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 before setting at 7:16 a.m. Saturday.

December 2024 - Cold Moon

The Cold Moon will light up the holidays on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. The moon's phases in December are:

• 🌑 New Moon: Dec. 1

• 🌓 First Quarter: Dec. 8.

• 🌕 Full Moon: Dec. 15.

• 🌗 Last Quarter: Dec. 22.

• 🌑 New Moon: Dec. 30

Why is it called the Cold Moon?

It's no mystery why December's full moon is commonly referred to as the "Cold Moon," or the "Winter Maker Moon," according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. It's the first full moon after the winter solstice when temperatures are normally freezing in the northern hemisphere.

Other names for December's full moon from Native American tribes include the Long Night Moon, Drift Clearing Moon, and the Little Spirit Moon.

When is the best time to see the full moon in December 2024?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 5:26 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, crossing the meridian at 12:30 a.m. before setting at 8:36 a.m. Monday.

Why does the moon sometimes appear red?

You may have noticed the moon will occasionally take on a dramatic shade of orange or red in the night sky. That's because of how sunlight strikes the moon's surface after passing through our atmosphere.

When the moon moves into the inner part of Earth's shadow, or umbra, according to NASA, some of the sunlight entering Earth's skies scatters before reaching the moon's surface.

Colors with shorter wavelengths, such as blues and violets, scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, which include red and orange. The more dust or clouds in Earth's atmosphere during a lunar eclipse, the redder the moon appears.

Mark your calendars: Hoosiers have less than 4 minutes to see this rare total solar eclipse in 2024

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: When every full moon of 2024 will happen