Nothing is more beautiful than a West Texas sunset, but a full moon on a clear West Texas night could be a close second. I live in Midland and love how well I can see the stars and moon at night, and I'm so excited about the first full moon of 2025.

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THE WOLF MOON

The Farmers Almanac started to publish names for full moons in the 1930s.

This moon gets its name from the belief that wolves are more likely to be heard howling at the moon around the dark chilly nights of winter. The name is thought to come from Celtic and Old English roots brought by European settlers.

The Wolf Moon has many names. According to the Farmers Almanac, the Potawatomi in The Great Lates call it the "Bear Moon." The Tlingit know it as the "Goose Moon," and the Cherokee call it the "Cold Moon." These are just a few of the many names for The Wolf Moon.

BEST TIME TO WATCH THE WOLF MOON

The Wolf Moon will seem bright for 3 days. You will start seeing it on Sunday, January 12th in the evening to Wednesday, January 15th in the morning. Want to catch it when it hits its peak brightness? Texans can catch it on January 13th at 4:27 PM. It will rise from the eastern horizon around sunset.

2025 will have 12 full moons, 3 are supermoons, and 2 are lunar eclipses. There haven't been two lunar eclipses in one year since 2022.

Don't forget to set your reminder and make some time to enjoy the first full moon of the year!

Lunar Rainbow: Why the Moon Changes Colors, Explained

When the moon lies on the horizon, the color will be most intense, usually red or orange. When there's more blue light, as during the early morning hours, we're more likely to see purple and blue-tinged moons. Here's why:

Gallery Credit: Phylicia Peterson, Townsquare Media Laramie/Cheyenne

How To Take Photos of the Moon Like a Pro

Have you ever taken a picture of the moon and it winds up looking nothing like what you see with your eyes, and instead just a blurry white dot in a dark sky?

You don't need thousands of dollars of equipment to create some really amazing images. Here's how to do it:

Gallery Credit: WYRK