The January 2026 full moon is upon us! Here’s what to anticipate when the “Wolf Moon” prowls over the horizon tonight, kicking off a spectacular pure mild present as the primary full moon (and supermoon) of 2026.
A full moon happens when the moon sits reverse the solar in Earth‘s sky — an occasion that happens simply as soon as in every of its 27-day recurring orbits — inflicting the lunar disk to look fully-lit from our perspective. January’s full moon formally reaches peak illumination at 5:03 a.m. EST (1003 GMT) on Jan. 3, although the lunar disk will seem virtually full to the informal observer on the encircling nights. Local moonrise and moonset instances will rely in your location.
January’s full moon is known as the Wolf Moon, in reference to the hungry predators that have been known to howl during the long winter nights. It is also sometimes known by its Anglo-Saxon name, the “Moon After Yule”, according to TimeandDate and because the “Severe Moon” by North America’s indigenous Dakota folks to replicate the bitter chilly of the month, per the Old Farmers Almanac.
This month’s full moon section coincides with the moon’s closest method to Earth — a degree in its orbit referred to as perihelion — giving rise to a ravishing supermoon that may seem 30% brighter and 14% bigger than essentially the most distant full moon of the 12 months. January’s supermoon is the final in a string of 4 consecutive supermoons. After that, we’ll have to attend till Nov. 24, 2026, to see one other!
When to see the “Wolf Moon” rise
Look to the jap horizon at nightfall on Jan. 2 to observe the “Wolf Moon” rise shortly earlier than sundown native time. It will seem notably giant whereas near the horizon due to a phenomenon referred to as the “moon illusion“, a visual effect that makes low-hanging moons seem oversized.
You may notice this effect even more at sunset on the following day (Jan. 3), when the satellite will rise in a darker sky shortly after the sun sets. You may also notice the moon take on an orange-yellow hue as it sits close to the horizon, as the prolonged journey through Earth’s atmosphere scatters the bluer wavelengths of reflected light, while allowing redder wavelengths to pass relatively unhindered.
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New York | 5:03 a.m. EST |
| London | 10:03 a.m. GMT |
| Tokyo | 7:03 p.m. JST |
| Beijing | 6:03 p.m. CST |
| Sydney | 9:03 p.m. AEDT |
On Jan. 3, bright Jupiter will shine less than 4 degrees to the right of the lunar disk. For context, the width of your three middle fingers held at arm’s length accounts for 5 degrees in the night sky.
Why not grab your camera and try to snap a picture of the first full moon of the year using our handy guide to imaging Earth’s natural satellite? You may also want to check out our roundups of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography to ensure that you’re prepared to capture everything that the 2026 night sky has to offer.
Editor’s Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com’s readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.