Something is going down this evening (Thursday, January 12) - or rather going up - as the Wolf Moon will bright up the night sky ahead of Friday 13th. We've all seen the pictures and got the tales of wolves howling up at the full moon but tonight's first year's full moon is the one to beware of hungry wolves, as per folklore.

The Wolf Moon Is The Name Given To A Full Moon In January By Native American Tribes

They referring at it was on the night of the first full moon of the new year that starving wolves would howl over the night - which is also why you might hear it mentioned to as the Hunger Moon. What makes this evening even more special is that alongside the Wolf Moon you should be able to clearly spy our planetary neighbor, Venus.

In practical understanding, stargazers may have already noticed the bright light edging steadily nearer the moon in the last week or so, but the best is yet to come.

Tonight, Venus, second planet from the Sun will reach its utmost eastern elongation, meaning it'll be 47.1 degrees from the Sun, making it the best time to opinion the planet from Earth.

"From werewolves to lupe-garu, the idea that the moon influenced men pops up in one form or another across the globe, dating back all the way to antiquity," they added. "Helen will explore several these tales all over the show to help our viewers decide if they or their neighbors could be one of these mythical beasts."

All the year's full moons have names, which were given to them by Native Americans that exist in the central and eastern parts of North America. For an instance, August's full moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon, and September's is the Corn Moon or Harvest Moon.