We have the complete full moon schedule 2020 and 22 fun play and learn moon activities for kids. Whether you’re trying to explain moon phases to preschoolers, need moon activities for high school, or want to know how to explain phases of the moon for kids of all ages, we have your STEM studies and full moon calendar.
Before we get into the full moon schedule and activities, let’s give you an understanding of the basics.
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What Is a Full Moon?
A full moon is when the complete moon is visible from earth.
The moon is full one time each month.
In some months, there are two full months and it’s known as a blue moon.
(More on that in a bit!)
What makes a full moon?
In the full moon lunar phase, the earth is directly between the moon and the sun.
The moon then appears fully illuminated, or “lit up,” from our perspective viewing it from the earth.
A full moon happens “when the ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180°.”
When Is The Next Full Moon?
When is the full moon?
There is one full moon each month.
However, the dates vary each month.
(On occasion, there are two full moons during one month. We’ll talk about that and it’s special name a little later!)
Full Moon Schedules
We’ve put together the full moon schedules for 2020.
Why do you want to know full moon schedules?
- To make sure that you plan so you can take advantage of any that are visible in your area!
- To learn about the different phases of the moon.
- Understand the name of that moon and the reason it was named that.
So . . . what date is the next full moon?
DON’T MISS THE INTERESTING INFO ABOUT THE NAMES OF MOONS (AND WHY THEY’RE NAMED THAT) AFTER THIS SECTION.
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'About every 19 years, there is no Full Moon in February.' -TimeAndDate.com
Full Moon Schedule 2020
| DATE OF FULL MOON | TIME OF FULL MOON (EST) | NATIVE NAME OF FULL MOON |
|---|---|---|
| January 10 | 2:23 p.m. | Wolf Moon |
| February 9 | 2:43 a.m. | Snow Moon |
| March 9 | 1:48 a.m. | Worm Moon |
| April 7 | 10:35 p.m. | Pink Moon |
| May 7 | 6:45 a.m. | Flower Moon |
| June 5 | 3:12 p.m. | Strawberry Moon |
| July 5 | 12:44 a.m. | Buck Moon |
| August 3 | 11:59 a.m. | Sturgeon Moon |
| September 2 | 1:23 a.m. | Harvest Moon (Corn Moon) |
| October 1 | 5:06 p.m. | Harvest Moon (Hunter's Moon) |
| October 31 | 10:51 a.m. | **Blue Moon, or the second full moon that appears in a month |
| November 30 | 4:32 a.m. | Beaver Moon |
| December 29 | 10:30 p.m. | Cold Moon |
What is a blue moon and how often does it occur?
There are generally around 29 days between full moons.
However, in some months, there are two full moons.
When this occurs, the second full moon is called the “Blue Moon.”
FUN FACT: Because February has 29 days or less, there will never be a Blue Moon in February!
It is also called a Blue Moon when the Blue Moon is the third of four full moons in one season.
Why do they call it a Blue Moon?
A Blue Moon has little to do with the color and more to do with how often it occurs, which is rare.
Also, according to NASA.gov, the term Blue Moon came from a volcanic eruption in Indonesia that turned the moons blue (or green) for a long time.
Krakatoa’s ash is the reason [the moon turned blue].
Some of the ash-clouds were filled with particles about 1 micron (one millionth of a meter) wide–the right size to strongly scatter red light, while allowing other colors to pass.
White moonbeams shining through the clouds emerged blue, and sometimes green.
Blue moons persisted for years after the eruption.
People also saw lavender suns and, for the first time, noctilucent clouds.
The ash caused ‘such vivid red sunsets that fire engines were called out in New York, Poughkeepsie, and New Haven to quench the apparent conflagration,’ according to volcanologist Scott Rowland at the University of Hawaii.
Moons do appear blue sometimes, but it is rare.
Is there a Blue Moon in 2020?
Yes!
The full moon that occurs on October 31, 2020, is a blue moon.
The last blue moon before that was May 18, 2019.
What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs when all or part of the moon is obstructed by the earth’s shadow.
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Moon Telescope
What is a good telescope to see the moon?
If you’re new to telescopes, you’ll probably want to start with a telescope for beginners that comes with high magnification.
We love this affordable, bestselling telescope that allows you to also attach your phone to use as a screen.
It’s a good starter telescope and will allow you to see if how much you will use it for your STEM lessons or for personal use.
This is a portable travel telescope, which makes it perfect for taking to parks or traveling.
It also comes with:
- Carrying Bag
- Smartphone Adapter
- Wireless Remote
COMPARE BESTSELLING TELESCOPES FOR MOON VIEWING
Traditional Full Moon Names
The traditional full moons were named by Europeans and also Indigenous Native people.
They were traditionally named to correspond with seasons and reflect harvesting periods.
We still use some of those names today!
Check them out:
| DATE OF FULL MOON | NATIVE NAME OF FULL MOON | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| January Moon | Wolf Moon | Named after the howling wolves. |
| February Moon | Snow Moon | Name after the snow during this time. It is also called The Hunger Moon due to the hardships of food and hunting during this time. |
| March Moon | Worm Moon | Named for the earthworms that come out after winter. It is the last full moon of winter. |
| April Moon | Pink Moon | Named after the early blooming flowers of Spring. |
| May Moon | Flower Moon | Named after the flowers of Spring. It is also called the Corn Planting Moon. |
| June Moon | Strawberry Moon | Named after the strawberries that ripen during this time. |
| July Moon | Buck Moon | Signifies the new antlers that form on deer during this time. It's also called Green Corn Moon, Grain Moon, and Fruit Moon. |
| August Moon | Sturgeon Moon | Named after the fish that could be fished during this time (for some tribes). |
| September Moon | Harvest Moon (Corn Moon) | The full moon closest to the September equinox, which occurs around September 22. It is named after the time to harvest corn. |
| October Moon | Harvest Moon (Hunter's Moon) | Called Hunter's Moon for the time spent hunting for food for the upcoming winter. |
| November Moon | Beaver Moon | The season when beavers become active. |
| December Moon | Cold Moon | Named for the cold of the winter. |
Phases of the Moon for Kids
The phases of moon is a fun STEM topic to add to your learning!
You can learn:
- Phases of the moon meaning
- What causes the phases of the moon?
- What are the phases of the moon in order?
- How many phases of the moon are there?
And more!
Get started with this Phases of the Moon video:
22 Moon Lesson Plans, Worksheets, and Activities for Kids
Here are great moon lesson plans and different ways for teaching about the moon during the full moon schedules.
- Read about the moon
- Get an On The Moon activity guide
- Learn about the moon & its phases
- Make a moon phases slider
- Learn characteristics of Earth’s moon and compare and contrast properties of the moon and Earth
- Grab a lunar math educator’s guide (K-12)
- Read Faces of the Moon and grab a free moon experiments and activities guide to go with the book
- Get moon worksheets
- Read facts about the moon phases
- Do an Oreo moon phases lesson plan
- Learn about the Apollo Program
- Watch a documentary about the moon landing
- Look at satellite images of the Apollo Mission
- Read books about the moon landing:
- Play an online moon Mars Rover game
- Watch the NASA YouTube channel
- Do a the moon poem lesson plan
- Get a free Forward to the Moon with Artemis Explorer Activities activity book
- Watch videos about the moon (PreK-Grade 3)
- Paint a full moon using tracing and transfer
- Join (or create!) your own astronomy club for kids!
- Find an observatory in your area and take a field trip!
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