                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2024 February 13
    A bright full moon is seen in the center of the image. Angular clouds
   are seen around the edges which make the moon look like it is either in
   the mouth of the wolf, or the eye of a wolf. Please see the explanation
                       for more detailed information.

                             A January Wolf Moon
                  Image Credit & Copyright: Antoni Zegarski

   Explanation: Did you see the full moon last month? During every month,
   on average, a full moon occurs in the skies over planet Earth. This is
   because the Moon takes a month to complete another orbit around our
   home planet, goes through all of its phases, and once again has its
   entire Earth-facing half lit by reflected sunlight. Many indigenous
   cultures give each full moon a name, and this past full moon's names
   include the Ice Moon, the Stay at Home Moon, and the Quiet Moon.
   Occurring in January on the modern western calendar, several cultures
   have also named the most recent full moon the Wolf Moon, in honor of
   the famous howling animal. Featured here above the Italian Alps
   mountains, this past Wolf Moon was captured in combined long and short
   exposure images. The image is striking because, to some, the
   surrounding clouds appear as a wolf's mouth ready to swallow the Wolf
   Moon, while others see the Moon as a wolf's eye.

                    Tomorrow's picture: a field of roses
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn; Specific rights apply.
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                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

