Can You Stargaze During a Full Moon?

Yes. You can stargaze during a full Moon, differently. The Moon becomes the target, bright stars remain, and faint sights wait for a moonless night. A full Moon night over Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park rewards a different plan.

When are the full Moons in 2027?

The 2027 full Moons in America/Denver time are: January 22 at 05:17 MST; February 20 at 16:23 MST; March 22 at 04:44 MDT; April 20 at 16:27 MDT; May 20 at 04:59 MDT; June 18 at 18:44 MDT, from a June 19 UTC instant; July 18 at 09:45 MDT; August 17 at 01:29 MDT; September 15 at 17:03 MDT; October 15 at 07:47 MDT; November 13 at 20:26 MST, from a November 14 UTC instant; and December 13 at 09:09 MST. These are exact phase instants, not moonrise times. A Skyfield computation agrees with these times to within a minute. Moon phases decide how dark the night is. There are 12 full Moons and 13 new Moons in 2027 by UTC date, and no month has two full Moons by UTC date.

Traditional names in the Old Farmer's Almanac list are: Wolf Moon on January 22, Snow Moon on February 20, Worm Moon on March 22, Pink Moon on April 20, Flower Moon on May 20, Strawberry Moon on June 18, Buck Moon on July 18, Sturgeon Moon on August 17, Harvest Moon on September 15, Hunter's Moon on October 15, Beaver Moon on November 13, and Cold Moon on December 13.

What counts as a supermoon in 2027?

Supermoon status depends on the definition. Timeanddate lists January 22 and February 20 as Super Full Moons under its rule, a full Moon within 90 percent of perigee, and states there is no official definition. The Old Farmer's Almanac also lists those two dates. Under a strict rule of less than 360,000 km, only January 22 qualifies, at 357,644 km, while February 20 is 363,304 km. No NASA source for a specific 2027 supermoon was found.

What can you still see under a full Moon?

The Moon is the main sight, and it is bright enough to dominate the sky. With your eyes only, look for the dark maria against the lighter highlands. NASA notes you may see Copernicus, Kepler, Aristarchus, and Tycho, and bright ray streaks from Copernicus and Tycho. At full Moon, craters look muted because the high Sun casts no shadows, while rayed Tycho stands out. Binoculars of 7 power or more show craters and ridges, clearest along the terminator on nights other than full Moon. No filter is recommended here, and no telescope setting is stated.

At 9 p.m. Denver time on each full Moon date, computed for Estes Park, the Moon is at least 99 percent illuminated and the Sun is below the horizon. Mars is up at 9 p.m. from January through August, and Jupiter is up at 9 p.m. from January through July. Mercury is up at 9 p.m. only in May, low in the west. Venus is down at 9 p.m. on all 12 dates. Saturn is low in the east in September and higher in October, November, and December. Bright stars follow the seasons: Orion stars and Sirius in winter; Arcturus, Spica, and Regulus in spring; Vega, Deneb, and Altair in summer; Deneb and Altair in September, with Fomalhaut in October and November. Check a current sky app on the night, because altitudes change through the evening.

What should you save for a moonless night?

Save the faint sky for darkness. A full Moon washes out the Milky Way band, and the best Milky Way viewing is within a few days of new Moon. Can you see the Milky Way in Rocky Mountain National Park explains when the bright core is up. EarthSky says the waning gibbous Moon in 2027 will wash out all but the brightest Lyrid meteors. The darkest windows sit near the new Moons: January 7, February 6, March 8, April 6, May 6, June 4, July 3 in Denver time, August 2, August 31, September 29, October 29, November 27, and December 27.

How should you plan a full Moon night?

Check the phase instant, then check moonrise and weather separately. Sky Tonight states its calendar includes lunar phases and event reminders can be set for a Full Moon. No source used here guarantees clear skies. For a guided night, the Stargaze tour is a live offering. Go out for the Moon and the bright stars, and save the deep dark for the new Moon.