Full 'Wolf Moon' To Shine Friday Over PA Skies: Forecast, Timing

The first full moon of the decade — the Wolf moon — will shine over Pennsylvania skies Friday night.

The January full moon was first named "Wolf Moon" by Native Americans because they could hear hungry wolves howling outside at winter camps. The January full moon has also been called the old moon and the moon after yule.

A penumbral lunar eclipse, which occurs when the moon passes through the Earth's partial shadow — or penumbra — will also occur Jan. 10 but won't be visible in the United States.

So how visible will the year's first full moon be?

The forecast for Friday calls for some clouds and fog. There is no rain expected.

In February, we're in for a supermoon. The February full moon is the first of four 2020 supermoons — moons that appear to be larger and brighter as they make their closest approach to Earth.

Heavy snow fell over Native American camps at this time of year, so they called the February full moon either the full snow moon or the full hunger moon, the latter because hunting was more difficult in heavy snow.

The final month of winter, March, will also feature a supermoon. Native American tribes called it the full worm moon to mark the time of year earthworms began working their way out of the newly thawed ground.

For more information what to expect this year over Pennsylvania skies, see our 2020 Guide To Meteor Showers, Supermoons Over PA Skies.