The moon experiences eight phases throughout its 29.5-day cycle.
Prepare to witness the inaugural full moon of the year, famously known as the “Wolf Moon.” This breathtaking celestial event is set to grace the Thursday night sky, accompanied by the appearance of Venus, Mercury, and Mars in the early hours of Friday, illuminated by the moon’s radiance.
As reported by Forbes, the “Wolf Moon” will reach its zenith at 12:54 pm ET, offering a captivating view for most of the Northern Hemisphere later in the evening. The name “Wolf Moon” originates from the winter nights when wolf packs are known to howl around villages, typically in January.
Time is of the essence to savor this extraordinary lunar display, with the moonrise expected at 4:56 pm, followed closely by sunset at 5:04 pm, providing only a brief window of opportunity.
Additional planets will bask in the full moon’s glow: Venus is poised to rise at 5:11 am on Friday, followed by Mercury nearly an hour later at 6:05 am, succeeded by Mars at 6:09 am.
According to NASA, the moon’s 29.5-day cycle yields a monthly full moon, but the date may vary. The moon transitions through eight phases during this cycle: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent.
During the full moon phase, the moon presents itself as a perfect circle in the sky, fully illuminated by the Sun’s rays on the side facing the Earth.
For those equipped with binoculars, Venus will shine brightly just before dawn on Saturday, while Mercury, lower in the sky, will be visible 45 minutes before sunrise. Clear skies may afford observers a glimpse of Mars, positioned slightly dimmer next to Mercury.
NASA anticipates that the waning moon, the phase between the full and half moon, will pass near Regulus, the brightest star in the Leo constellation, on Saturday morning.
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