The first Full Wolf Moon of 2022 is set to light up Irish skies tonight as the weather looks set to be clear and crisp in the evening.
With today marking Blue Monday, this wolf moon couldn't come at a better time for many.
Full moons occur when the moon is exactly on the opposite side of the earth from the sun. Because of this, the moon appears illuminated because the suns light is reflected from it.
But what time will it be visible in Irish skies and why is it called the Wolf Moon?
Here's everything you need to know about the Wolf Moon.
Why is it called Wolf Moon?
It's usually called the Wolf Moon because wolves were/are far more likely to be heard howling at the moon at this time. This was usually due to wolves being hungrier at this time of year.
When will the Wolf Moon be visible?
According to Mooninfo.org, the Wolf Moon will be visible in the night sky at 11.51pm, tonight.
How often does the full moon occur?
A full moon occurs every 29.5 days.
Are there other Wolf Moons or similar?
While the Wolf Moon is believed to have been given its name by villagers who could hear wolves howling at this time of year, Native Americans also named the other full moons.
According to Almanac, other names include Frost Exploding Moon (Cree), Freeze Up Moon (Algonquin), Severe Moon (Dakota), Hard Moon (Dakota), Canada Goose Moon (Tlingit), Great Moon (Cree), Greetings Moon (Western Abenaki) and Spirit Moon (Ojibwe).
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon is on February 28.
