The Enchanting Rise of the Wolf Moon: A Guide to Experience Its Majesty

The first full moon of the year is set to rise over the horizon.

Prepare to “howl” at the “wolf” moon, a celestial occurrence named for the belief that in the dark, chilly months of winter, wolves are especially vocal during the nighttime.

Here’s all you need to know regarding the full wolf moon, covering its nickname and when to observe it.

How did the wolf moon acquire its name?

The initial full moon of the year is most commonly referred to as the “wolf moon” as the howls of wolves were more frequently heard during winter, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Thought to have been introduced to North America by European settlers, the title might be a slight misnomer.

Although wolves actively howl, specialists indicate that there is no proof they are howling at the moon, nor that its celestial phases influence wolf vocalizations. Rather, being nocturnal creatures, wolves typically exhibit more activity at night.

Wolves also do not howl out of hunger, contrary to common assumptions.

“Howling and other vocal sounds from wolves are observable during winter to locate pack members, reinforce social relationships, establish territory, and coordinate hunting,” according to the almanac.

When will the full wolf moon be observable? How to view it.

A moon is perceived as “full” when this celestial entity – the Earth’s sole natural satellite – is located directly opposite our planet from the sun, illuminating its face entirely with the sun’s light.

The full wolf moon of January reaches its peak brightness on Monday, Jan. 13 at 5:27 p.m. EST.

However, the moon will also appear exceptionally bright for approximately three days surrounding its peak brightness, from Sunday evening through Wednesday morning.

Watch for the January full moon to ascend from the eastern horizon at sunset, per NASA. By midnight, the wolf moon should shine brilliantly and roundly high above before it vanishes at sunrise into the western horizon.

As an added treat, during the full moon night, the moon will transit in front of Mars and will be observable to the majority of the continental United States, as per NASA.

When is the subsequent full moon?

The following full moon is anticipated in February.

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the snow moon will become visible, according to Astronomy.com.

Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

Eric Lagatta reports on breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Contact him at elagatta@gannett.com