The ‘Wolf’ is the first full moon of 2023, and it’s tonight. Here’s when to see it from WA

Meredith Howard, Genevieve Belmaker
Charlie Riedel/Associated Press file photo

The first full moon of 2023 will rise Friday, Jan. 6, and it’s known as the Wolf Moon, as well as the Ice Moon, the Moon after Yule, the Old Moon and more.

The celestial event will be a micromoon, as the full moon will be at its farthest point from Earth. Micromoons appear dimmer than supermoons, which occur when the full moon is at its closest point in orbit to Earth.

January’s full moon is called the “Wolf” moon because wolves are typically active in mid-winter.

Full moons have multiple names, and many come from Indigenous cultures and European traditions.

The Farmers’ Almanac uses Indigenous moon names, along with monikers from colonial America and other North American sources, and says the Wolf moon’s name is thought to have English origins.

When can you see the Wolf moon in Washington state?

The Wolf moon will rise at 4:07 p.m. Pacific Standard Time Friday in the south Puget Sound, but Forbes recommends watching the skies Saturday evening instead, as the sunset won’t interfere as much.

On Saturday, Jan. 7 the sun will set at 4:36 p.m., and the moon will rise at 5:09 p.m. Depending on cloud cover and other weather factors, you should be able to get a decent look of the full moon any time after it becomes dark on Saturday.

While the Night Sky Network doesn’t have a Wolf moon gathering on the calendar in the Puget Sound region, the Tacoma Astronomical Society hosts monthly free public viewing sessions of the skies near Pierce College.

When to see more full moons in 2023

If you miss the Wolf moon Friday and Saturday, you’ll have 12 more chances to see a full moon in 2023. Four will be supermoons, and one will be a blue moon.

Here’s this year’s full moon calendar, with information from Space.com:

  1. Jan. 6: Wolf moon

  2. Feb. 6: Snow moon

  3. March 7: Worm moon

  4. April 6: Pink moon

  5. May 5: Flower moon

  6. June 3: Strawberry moon

  7. July 3: Buck supermoon

  8. Aug. 1: Sturgeon supermoon

  9. Aug. 30: Blue supermoon (appears biggest and brightest of the year)

  10. Sept. 29: Harvest supermoon

  11. Oct. 28: Hunter’s moon

  12. Nov. 27: Beaver moon

  13. Dec. 26: Cold moon

The Blue supermoon will be August’s second full moon, and Forbes says the best times to see it will be the evenings of Aug. 30 and Aug. 31.

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