JACKSON, Wyo. — The first full moon of 2024 will illuminate Jackson Hole on the evening of Thursday, Jan. 25. Peak fullness occurred at 10:54 a.m. on Thursday. It appeared full on Wednesday night, too.
January’s full moon has been called the Wolf Moon historically, likely because wolves have been heard howling and are active during this time of year.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo debunks the idea that wolves howl at the moon.
“Howling may be heard at night, but it is not a behavior directed at the moon,” according to the institution’s website. “Instead, it is used as a social rally call, a hail to hunt or as a territorial expression. A howl can even help a lost wolf find its way home. A wolf separated from its pack uses a ‘lonesome howl’ — a shortened call that rises in pitch. If answered, the wolf then responds with deep, even howls to inform the pack of its location.”
January’s full moon also has garnered names related to the harsh weather usually experienced during this time of year in North America.
According to Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Cree call it the Cold Moon, Frost Exploding Moon and Great Moon. The Algonquin call it the Freeze up Moon, the Dakota call it the Severe Moon and Hard Moon, a nod to the hard crust snow sometimes forms. Other names include the Canada Goose Moon, Tlingit, the Greetings Moon, Western Abenaki and the Spirit Moon, Ojibwe. The Assiniboine people of the northern great plains refer to this month’s moon as the Center Moon, due to it roughly marking the middle of the winter season.
The moon will be full again on Feb. 24.
