Here's how each full moon received its name

2023 was home to 13 full moons, a function of a roughly 29.5-day lunar cycle fitting into the 365 days it takes for the Earth to rotate around the Sun. That brought the blue moon Aug. 30, the second full moon of a month.

Four of the full moons were supermoons: July 3, Aug. 1, Aug. 30 and Sept. 29. During a supermoon, the moon is at its closest distance to the earth.

The moon's rotation around the Earth isn't a perfect circle, it's longer on one side than the other. Therefore, the moon is at varying distances to the Earth, depending on the time of year.

During supermoons, the moon appears brighter and about 7% bigger than other full moons.

The one lunar eclipse, when the full moon drifts into the shadow of the Earth, occured on Oct. 28.

Most of the time, the "full" moon isn't actually 100% full. Only when the moon, Earth and the sun are exactly aligned is the moon technically 100% full and produces a lunar eclipse.

Scroll down to see the names given to each full moon as well as the meaning behind each and more information about the lunar eclipse.

The naming information comes from space.com.

When: 7:33 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time

December is when the winter cold fastens its grip on the Northern Hemisphere. Sometimes this moon is referred to as the Long Nights Moon, and the nights are their longest. The moon is above the horizon a long time. On occasion, this moon was also called the Moon before Yule. 

This particular full moon makes its highest arc across the sky because it is opposite to the low sun. And on this very same night, another celestial object will also be opposite to the sun: Mars, which arrives at opposition 87 minutes after the moon turns full.  Depending on your location, you will see Mars shining like a brilliant yellow-orange star, either hovering very close below the moon, or you will see the moon actually pass in front of Mars, producing an occultation. 

When: 6:08 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time

Amid the zero-degree cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside villages. It was also known as the Old Moon or the Moon after Yule. In some tribes this was the Full Snow Moon; most applied that name to the next moon.

When: 1:29 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time

Depending on location, the heaviest snows fall in this month. Much of the Mid-Atlantic falls into this category, as well as the Mid-South.

Hunting becomes very difficult during February. Hence, to some tribes, this was the Full Hunger Moon.

When: 7:40 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time

In this month the ground softens and earthworm casts reappear, inviting the return of the robins. Some more northern tribes knew this as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signals the end of winter.

It's also known as the Full Crust Moon because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night.

When: 12:34 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time

The grass pink or wild ground phlox is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring.

When: 1:34 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time

The term full flower moon is derived from how Flowers are abundant everywhere by this time of year. This moon was also known as the Full Corn Planting Moon.

When: 11:42 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time

Strawberry picking season peaks during this month; Europeans called this the Rose Moon.

When: 7:39 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time

Named for when the new antlers of buck deer push out from their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, thunderstorms being now most frequent.

This will be the first of four consecutive supermoons of the year. Expect a slightly larger and brighter full moon in the sky. 

When: 2:31 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time

This moon honors when this large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, like Lake Champlain, where they are most readily caught.

This is the second of four consecutive full moons of the year. Look for a slightly brighter and larger full moon in the sky. 

When: 9:35 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time

The saying "once in a blue moon" means a rare occurrence in folklore. However, it predates the current use of the term, which indicates two full moons within a month.

"The term Blue Moon is believed to have originated in 1883 after the eruption of Krakatoa. The volcano put so much dust in the atmosphere that the Moon actually looked blue in color. This was so unusual that the term 'once in a Blue Moon' was coined," according to David Williams of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

A blue moon occurs once every 2.5 years, on average. 

This will also be the third consecutive supermoon of four, and the biggest of them all. 

The moon will be 222,043 miles away from the Earth, besting the other supermoon from up to 4,000 miles. Still, there won't be a noticeable difference between the Blue Supermoon and the others

When: 5:57 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time

Traditionally, this name goes to the full moon that occurs closest to the fall equinox, which falls this year on Sept. 22. This year's Harvest Moon comes unusually early. 

At the peak of the harvest, farmers can work into the night by the light of this moon. Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice — indigenous staples in North America — are now ready for gathering. 

This will be the last of the four consecutive supermoons of the year. 

When: 4:24 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time

With the leaves falling and the deer fattened, this is the time to hunt. Since the fields have been reaped, hunters can ride over the stubble, and can more easily see the fox and other animals.    

This will be the only full moon with a partial lunar eclipse visible to at least part of the United States. Those in New England, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C. eastern Virginia and eastern North Carolina will see part of the moon shaded brownish red that evening. 

You can find start and end times for the eclipse at your location using this link.

When: 4:16 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time

At this point of the year, it was time to set beaver traps before the swamps freeze to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now active in their preparation for winter.