However, when the moon does appear to be larger, it is due to\u00a0what is known as a moon illusion<\/a>\u2014 a strange phenomenon for which there is little scientific explanation.<\/p>\n But the illusion means humans perceive objects at the horizon as being larger than they usually appear\u00a0to our eyes \u2014 and the same is then true for objects we hold up, in line with the moon, on the horizon.<\/p>\n You may also see a yellow tinge to the moon, visible\u00a0as it rises over the horizon.<\/p>\n This happens because light reflected by the moon at the horizon travels a greater distance to reach our eyes, compared to when the moon appears higher in the sky.<\/p>\n The longer path for the light means short,\u00a0blue wavelengths scatter, leaving predominantly red wavelengths that reach our eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n As the moon rises\u00a0in the sky, and the distance for the light to travel reduces, the moon appears to be bluer in color.<\/p>\n Tomorrow Today: Question of the Week: Why is the sky blue? – 27.10.2008<\/p>\n To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n What’s in a full moon’s name?<\/p>\n We tend to refer to these phases of the lunar cycle simply as full moons.<\/p>\n But each full moon\u00a0has descriptive name\u00a0that relates to the time of year it occurs.<\/p>\n The names, listed below, are mainly based on North American traditions \u2014 both indigenous and colonial \u2014\u00a0but have become common, globally.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 12 full moon names are:<\/p>\n \tJanuary: Wolf Moon When is the first\u00a0supermoon in 2026?<\/p>\n We can expect to see three supermoons in 2026, with the first occurring just days into the New Year\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the Wolf Moon on January 3 will be a supermoon, too.<\/p>\n Then, we will have a long wait until November 24 for a Super Beaver Moon and another Super Cold Moon on December 24, 2026.<\/p>\n Look out for\u00a0Geminids and Ursids, too<\/p>\n While 2025’s Super Cold Moon may be short-lived for some, there is more for stargazers to enjoy in December. These include\u00a0Geminid\u00a0and Ursid\u00a0meteor showers.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Geminids appear near the constellation of Gemini, starting December 4 and continuing until December 20, 2025. They will peak on December 14, with up to 120 visible\u00a0meteors each hour.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Ursids,\u00a0also known as the Little Bear\u00a0or Little Dipper, radiate near the star Ursa Minor Beta in the constellation of Ursa Minor. They will shower between December 17-26, 2025, but with only a dozen or so visible each hour.\u00a0<\/p>\n Annual meteor showers visible in 2026<\/p>\n There will be plenty to see in the night sky next year, including about\u00a0a dozen meteor showers, according to\u00a0Royal Museums Greenwich<\/a>.<\/p>\n \tQuadrantids, visible December 28, 2025, until\u00a0January 12, peaking on January 4 near the constellation Bo\u00f6tes. 2 solar eclipses in 2026<\/p>\n \u00a0An annular solar eclipse<\/a>\u00a0will take place on February 17. It will be great viewing for researchers in Antarctica<\/a>, but not for many others.<\/p>\n Those in the Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina (south of El Calafate), South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar,\u00a0and the southern regions of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania, will only see a partial eclipse<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n\tFebruary: Snow Moon
\n\tMarch: Worm Moon
\n\tApril: Pink Moon
\n\tMay: Flower Moon
\n\tJune: Strawberry Moon
\n\tJuly: Buck Moon
\n\tAugust: Sturgeon Moon
\n\tSeptember: Corn Moon
\n\tOctober: Hunter Moon
\n\tNovember: Beaver Moon
\n\tDecember: Cold Moon<\/p>\nTwo meteor showers remain for 2025Image: sripfoto\/Pond5 Images\/IMAGO<\/p>\n
\n\tLyrids, visible April 16-25, peaking on April 22, near the constellation Lyra.
\n\tEta Aquariids, visible April 19-May 28, peaking May 6, near the star Eta Aquarius in the\u00a0constellation Aquarius.
\n\tDelta Aquariids, visible July 12-August 23, peaking July 30, near the star Delta Aquarius.
\n\tPerseids, visible July 17-August 24, peaking August 13, near the constellation Perseus.
\n\tDraconids, visible 6-10 October, peaking 9 October, near the constellation Draco.\u00a0
\n\tOrionids, visible October 2 until November 7, peaking October 21, near the constellation Orion.
\n\tTaurids, visible September 10-November 20 in the southern hemisphere, October 20-December 10 in the northern hemisphere, near constellation Taurus.\u00a0
\n\tLeonids, visible November 6-30, peaking November 18, near constellation Leo.
\n\tGeminids, visible December 4-20, peaking December 14, near constellation Gemini.
\n\tUrsids, visible December 17-26, peaking December 22, near constellation Ursa Minor.\u00a0<\/p>\n