Moon Phases January 2018
The full moon in January 2018 is on 2 January at 02:24 UTC — traditionally called the Wolf Moon. The new moon falls on 17 January at 02:17 UTC. January 2018 holds a second full moon on 31 January at 13:26 UTC — a Blue Moon. Times are UTC.
Why the January 2018 full moon is called the Wolf Moon
Named for wolves heard howling in midwinter.
These are the traditional Colonial and Native American names popularised by the farmers’ almanacs. They are folklore, not astronomy — the phase dates and times on this page are computed and verifiable, the names are naming convention.
Moon phase day by day
| Day | Phase | Illumination |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full Moon | 99% |
| 2 | Full Moon | 100% |
| 3 | Full Moon | 97% |
| 4 | Waning Gibbous | 92% |
| 5 | Waning Gibbous | 84% |
| 6 | Waning Gibbous | 75% |
| 7 | Last Quarter | 65% |
| 8 | Last Quarter | 54% |
| 9 | Last Quarter | 44% |
| 10 | Last Quarter | 34% |
| 11 | Waning Crescent | 26% |
| 12 | Waning Crescent | 18% |
| 13 | Waning Crescent | 11% |
| 14 | Waning Crescent | 6% |
| 15 | New Moon | 2% |
| 16 | New Moon | 0% |
| 17 | New Moon | 0% |
| 18 | New Moon | 2% |
| 19 | Waxing Crescent | 5% |
| 20 | Waxing Crescent | 11% |
| 21 | Waxing Crescent | 17% |
| 22 | Waxing Crescent | 26% |
| 23 | First Quarter | 35% |
| 24 | First Quarter | 46% |
| 25 | First Quarter | 57% |
| 26 | First Quarter | 67% |
| 27 | Waxing Gibbous | 78% |
| 28 | Waxing Gibbous | 87% |
| 29 | Waxing Gibbous | 94% |
| 30 | Full Moon | 98% |
| 31 | Full Moon | 100% |
Illumination at noon (UTC) for each day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the full moon in January 2018?
The full moon in January 2018 is on 2 January at 02:24 UTC, traditionally called the Wolf Moon.
What time is the full moon in January 2018?
The moon reaches full phase at 02:24 UTC on 2 January. It looks full to the naked eye for about a day either side of that instant, so the nights before and after are both worth watching.
Why is the January 2018 full moon called the Wolf Moon?
Named for wolves heard howling in midwinter. These names come from Colonial and Native American tradition and were popularised by the farmers' almanacs — they are naming convention rather than astronomy, while the phase dates and times on this page are computed and verifiable.
When is the new moon in January 2018?
The new moon in January 2018 is on 17 January at 02:17 UTC.
Is there a Blue Moon in January 2018?
Yes. January 2018 holds two full moons — the second, on 31 January at 13:26 UTC, is a Blue Moon under the common "second full moon in a calendar month" definition. It is not actually blue.