Sidereal and Synodic Months

Sidereal Month – The time that it takes for the moon to make one complete revolution (360o) around the Earth. About 27.3 days

Synodic Month – Consists of the 27.3 days of the sidereal month, plus additional time for the Moon to move back to its New Moon position. Totaling about 29.5 days.

The entire lunar cycle takes 29.5 days to complete.

A blue moon is used commonly to describe a second full moon in a single solar calendar month, which happens every two to three years.

Notable Native American Full- Moon Names

January: The Wolf MoonFebruary: The Snow MoonMarch: The Worm Moon

April: The Pink MoonMay: The Flower Moon

June: The Strawberry MoonJuly: The Buck Moon

August: The Sturgeon MoonSeptember:  Full Corn Moon or The Harvest Moon

October: Full Hunter’s Moon or The Hunter's MoonNovember: The Beaver Moon

December: The Cold Moon or the Full Long Nights Moon