Walking under the bright glow of the moonlight, strolling on the beach or through the forest, or simply gazing up at the night sky has always held a mesmerizing allure for people. Among the many phases of the moon, the full moon stands out as one of the most captivating. Many wonder, when is the next full moon? In the current lunar calendar for the year 2023, when will the full moon grace our skies, and what are the other lunar phases? Let's explore these celestial questions together.
The full moon is the lunar phase when the moon is entirely illuminated, and it appears as a complete circle when observed from Earth. During this phase, the moon is positioned opposite the sun, with its illuminated side facing our planet.
Moon phases refer to the different appearances of the moon as a result of the sunlight it receives and reflects back to Earth. The commonly recognized moon phases are 'full moon,' 'new moon,' 'first quarter,' and 'last quarter.'
New Moon: During the new moon phase, the moon is positioned between the Earth and the sun, obscuring its illuminated side from view. This is when the moon is completely dark and cannot be seen.
First Quarter: In the first quarter phase, half of the moon's surface is illuminated, while the other half remains in darkness.
Full Moon: The full moon is when the moon is opposite the Earth, and its illuminated side faces us. It is the brightest phase of the moon's cycle.
Last Quarter: The last quarter phase is similar to the first quarter, with half of the moon illuminated, but on the opposite side.
The full moon's appearance is a result of the moon's topographic features, such as mountains, craters, and valleys. The moon's surface is uneven, and as a result, sunlight reaches some parts more than others, creating shadows. During a full moon, the moon is directly aligned with the Earth and the sun, so sunlight falls perpendicularly onto its surface, eliminating most of the shadows and causing the entire face of the moon to be illuminated.
The occurrence of the full moon follows a regular pattern in the moon's orbit. A full moon happens approximately every 29.5 days as the moon completes one orbit around the Earth. The exact timing of the full moon varies based on the moon's position in its orbit.
In 2023, the full moon dates will be as follows:
January: January 6, 2023
February: February 5, 2023
March: March 7, 2023
April: April 6, 2023
May: May 5, 2023
June: June 4, 2023
July: July 3, 2023
August: August 1, 2023
August: August 31, 2023
September: September 29, 2023
October: October 28, 2023
November: November 27, 2023
December: December 27, 2023