Full moons of 2020
- Jan. 10 - Wolf moon and a penumbral lunar eclipse (not visible in U.S.)
- Feb.
- March 9 - Worm moon (supermoon)
- April 7 - Pink moon (supermoon)
- May 7 - Flower moon (supermoon)
- June 5 - Strawberry moon and a penumbral lunar eclipse (not visible in U.S.)
- July 5 - Buck moon and a penumbral lunar eclipse.
In fact, one study says that nearly 81 percent of mental health professionals believe the full moon can make people ill. As powerful as this ancient belief appears to be, there's little science to back up the theory that a full moon causes a swift uptick in emergency room visits or mental health unit admissions.
Although most experiments fail to show a relationship between the phase of the moon and abnormal behavior, the belief in the "lunar effect" is still strong among many. We cannot verify that the full moon has any effect on human behavior, this claim is false.
Skywatchers have been treated to the first full moon of 2020 - known as a "wolf moon" - at the same time as a lunar eclipse. Those gazing up at the skies on Friday, weather permitting, would have seen a penumbral lunar eclipse, which happens when the moon passes through the Earth's shadow.
Hiscock writes that it's “a truly modern piece of folklore, masquerading as something old.” Originally, in the early 1900s in places such as the Maine Farmer's Almanac, the term “blue moon” was used to refer to a related phenomenon, when four full moons occurred within a given season, instead of the typical three.
A "blood moon" happens when Earth's moon is in a total lunar eclipse. While it has no special astronomical significance, the view in the sky is striking as the usually whiteish moon becomes red or ruddy-brown. 20-21, 2019 coincided with a supermoon and the Full Wolf Moon, earning it the title "Super Blood Wolf Moon."
The moon is a feminine symbol, universally representing the rhythm of time as it embodies the cycle. The phases of the moon symbolize immortality and eternity, enlightenment or the dar k side of Nature herself.
It tends to have a more yellow or orange hue, compared to when it's high overhead. This happens because the Moon's light travels a longer distance through the atmosphere. As it travels a longer path, more of the shorter, bluer wavelengths of light are scattered away, leaving more of the longer, redder wavelengths.
"Pink Moon" is a name for the full Moon around the time of April, when the moss pink, or wild ground phlox, is in blossom. The name was used by the Algonquin tribe, as well as by colonial Americans. So every year, a traditional name for the full Moon in April is the Full Pink Moon.
Technically, the point at which the Moon is “full” lasts only an instant. To the naked eye, though, the Moon can appear to be full for upwards of three days. Also, the exact time of full moon can occur at any time of the day, even during the middle of the day, as you can see from the table of full moon times for 2020.
Full moons in 2020
| Date | Name | UTC |
|---|
| Oct. 1 | Harvest Moon | 21:05 |
| Oct. 31 | Blue Moon | 14:49 |
| Nov. 30 | Beaver Moon | 9:30 |
| Dec. 29 | Cold Moon | 3:28 (Dec. 30) |
Blood Moon. Tonight's celestial event is the first eclipse of the year and is sometimes called a "blood moon" because of the red appearance of the moon's surface when the moon is completely covered by the Earth's shadow.
June full moon 2020: The 'Strawberry Moon' brings a penumbral lunar eclipse. The full moon of June, also called the Strawberry Moon, will occur the morning of Friday, June 5, at 3:12 p.m. EDT (1912 GMT), just a few minutes before entering a penumbral lunar eclipse, according to NASA's SkyCal.
According to this Almanac, as the full Moon in June and the last full Moon of spring, the Algonquin tribes called this the Strawberry Moon. The name comes from the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries in the north-eastern United States.
July's full moon is known as the Buck Moon because it occurs around the time when young male deer grow their antlers. But it's also graced with many other nicknames by different cultures including “Thunder Moon,” “Hay Moon,” “Mead Moon,” “Rose Moon,” 'Elk Moon and 'Summer Moon.”
The Corn Moon, named by Native Americans to indicate the beginning of the corn harvest season, is the last full moon of the summer.
The next Blue Moon – second full moon of a calendar month – will come on October 31, 2020. The other sort of Blue Moon – third of four full moons in a single season, with a season being between a solstice and equinox – will come on August 22, 2021.
When it's dark enough, the body produces melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone. When there's light, the body suppresses melatonin production, making it harder to sleep.
The full moon has been associated with strange or insane behavior, including suicide, sleepwalking and violence. The lunar theory, otherwise known as the lunar effect, is the idea that there's some correlation between moon cycles and human behavior.
The full moon can feel like a bit of a disruptive time, resulting in more erratic behaviour, tension, or tiredness. You may find yourself feeling anxious or emotionally upset. Research has shown that we actually sleep less on the full moon, so it's important to ensure you care for your body.
There is no absolute proof that the Moon affects human mental and physical health, though its effect has been observed in other organisms: corals for instance appear to time their spawning based on the lunar cycle.
One of the easiest forms of self-care is taking a moon bath. A moon bath is the celebration of the alignment we share to the moon cycle, as well as nature, making us all feel a little bit more connected to the outside, even though many of us are helping to flatten the curve by staying inside.
“You fill up a clear glass receptacle with spring water and take it outside on the full moon after sunset. Preferably you'd go and collect it again before the sun comes up and make sure it doesn't touch the ground again until you pour it into the bath.”
