January 2020 Full Moon: The Full Wolf Moon
Want to look back at the January 2020 Full Moon? The January full moon was on Friday January 10, 2020 at 2:21 PM EST or 7:21 PM UTC based on the data provided by NASA. It was the first full moon of 2020.
A full moon occurs when the Earth is directly between the Sun and Moon so that the moon looks completely illuminated when you look at it. It happens about once a month or, 29.53 days on average.
Ready to dive a little deeper into the January 2020 Full Moon? Learn more about the moon’s nicknames and other facts about it.
The dates and times provided by NASA in the United States Eastern Time (ET) account for both Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) for part of the year in the United States. Also below is the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) time. This was previously referred to as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Since you may be in a different time zone, the exact dates may shift slightly for your calendar.
When was the full moon in January 2020?
The full moon in January 2020 was on Friday January 10, 2020 at 2:21 PM EST or 7:21 PM UTC. The January 10th full moon was the first full moon of 2020 and the full moon in Cancer.
What was the name of the Full Moon in January 2020?
One common nickname for the full moon in January 2020 was the Full Wolf Moon, named for wolves howling at the moon.
It’s also been referred to as the Ice Moon, Old Moon, Moon After Yule, and Snow Moon. Sometimes full moon names overlap and the Snow Moon name is commonly used to refer to the February full moon.
Which season included the January Full Moon?
In 2020, the January Full Moon was the first full moon of the Winter 2019-2020 season. It was the first full moon after the 2019 Winter Solstice.
The Winter Solstice marks the first day of winter and is the shortest day of the year when the Earth is tilted as far away from the sun as it will be all year.
In 2019, the Winter Solstice was on Saturday December 21, 2019 at 11:19 PM EST or December 22, 2019 at 4:19 AM UTC.
Depending on the year, the January full moon may be the first or second full moon of the winter season. In 2020 it was the first full moon of Winter.
Was there a full supermoon in January 2020?
No, the full moon in January 2020 was not a full supermoon as it was more than 360,000 kilometers away during the peak of the full moon.
A full supermoon is a full moon that nearly coincides with the closest point that the Moon comes to the Earth in its orbit, called perigee. The moon has a larger-than-usual appearance when you look at it. There isn’t an official definition for how close the moon must be to the Earth to be considered a supermoon. Depending on the version you use, the moon needs to be approximately 360,000 kilometers from the Earth or closer.
Was there a lunar eclipse during the January Full Moon?
Yes there was a penumbral lunar eclipse during the full moon in January 2020. The moon passed through the Earth’s penumbra resulting in a slight dimming of the moon’s surface. You wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference between a regular full moon.
When was the new moon for the 2020 Full Wolf Moon?
The lunar cycle for the January Full Moon begin with its new moon in 2019. The New Wolf Moon was on Thursday December 26, 2019 at 12:13 AM EST or 5:13 AM UTC and was the new moon in Capricorn.
Similar to the full moon, the New Wolf Moon also had an eclipse during its peak. The December 2019 New Moon had an Annular Solar Eclipse.
The new moon in December 2019 was the start of the lunar cycle for the January Full Moon in 2020. In other years the new and full moon will both occur in January.
In 2020, the new and full Wolf Moon were both in Winter. In other years the New Wolf Moon may occur at the end Autumn for the previous year.
The New Moon that occurred in January on January 24, 2020 4:42 PM EST or 9:42 PM UTC was the start of the lunar cycle for the February 2020 Full Moon.
January 2020 Moon Phases in Eastern Time and UTC
Below are the lunar phases for January 2020 including the new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter that were on the schedule for each month. The date and times are based on both the United States Eastern Time Zone and UTC, adjusted for daylight saving time.
| Lunar Phase | US Eastern Date & Time | UTC Date & Time |
|---|---|---|
| January First Quarter | January 2, 2020 11:45 PM EST | January 3, 2020 4:45 AM UTC |
| January Full Moon | January 10, 2020 2:21 PM EST | January 10, 2020 7:21 PM UTC |
| January Last Quarter | January 17, 2020 7:58 AM EST | January 17, 2020 12:58 PM UTC |
| January New Moon | January 24, 2020 4:42 PM EST | January 24, 2020 9:42 PM UTC |
Frequently Asked Questions
Have additional questions about the January Full Moon from 2020? Here are a few of the frequently asked questions to help you.
In 2020 there was one full moon in January. There are other years with 2 full moons, a blue moon, but not for 2020.
Future Full Moon Calendars
And if you’re looking for when the full moon occurs for the rest of the year, check out these future full moon calendars.
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