I’ll be taking early morning walks to see this weekend’s full Moon. Here is why it is best to too

One of the most effective issues about winter full Moons is that you do not have to rise too early out of your mattress to catch them within the morning earlier than dawn.

This weekend we’ll see a fantastic full Moon seen within the night, but in addition the morning sky, and that late winter daybreak means it is not an excessive amount of of a stretch to rise out of our beds to see it.

I’ll be getting up early on Saturday and Sunday morning to catch the Snow Moon because it’s setting in direction of the western horizon, and my 5-year-old son has made me promise to wake him and produce him with me.

The want for sleep

The short-lived custom started with the primary full Moon of 2026, which rose on the primary weekend of January, because the Christmas holidays had been coming to an finish.

It had been a soothing Christmas, and the necessity to get again into some semblance of a routine was weighing closely because the return to high school approached.

An early-morning stroll by means of our village to catch the January full Moon felt like simply the factor, to tire everybody out for the early bedtimes forward.

I rose earlier than 6am, bought myself and my son prepared, wrapped up and fed a fast snack, then we headed out.

Snow lay on the bottom and the total Moon was low in west, seen simply above the rooftops.

The remainder of the sky was clear and darkish, and even regardless of the streetlights we might simply see Jupiter near the total Moon and different shiny stars within the sky.

I identified Jupiter and the Moon to my son, and we talked about what it could be prefer to land on the Moon, or fly in a spaceship to go to the fuel large planet.

We trudged by means of the snow, discussing what kind of aliens may dwell on a planet like Jupiter, and seen how the Moon gave the impression to be following us on our journey.

It was there as we handed the play park, nonetheless there as we handed the pub and greengrocer’s, and was even sitting majestically above our home as we turned onto our avenue and approached the entrance door.

We bought in, put some espresso on and switched on BBC radio, solely to search out the station was inundated with messages from different listeners who had simply had the identical expertise as us.

It appeared folks all throughout the nation had woken early and appeared out to see that very same full Moon, large shiny and exquisite. The night time sky is really one thing that connects us all.

And but, it typically feels just like the Moon is one thing we take with no consideration.

Many seasoned astronomers bemoan the total Moon as a result of it washes out the remainder of the night time sky, making deep-sky objects or meteor showers tough to watch and {photograph}.

For non-astronomers, the Moon might change into one thing that is not even seen. It’s taken as a relentless presence within the sky, and one thing we overlook to cease and admire.

Personally, I like a full Moon. It’s one of the crucial stunning spectacles in nature, but very simple for a younger little one to see and perceive.

It actually makes rising early and heading out on a wintery Saturday morning earlier than dawn a way more relishing prospect.

Seeing the Snow Moon

This weekend, 31 January–1 February, the total Moon will likely be seen within the east because the Sun is setting, after which seen within the west because the Sun is rising.

The February full Moon is understood by many because the Snow Moon, a reminder of the historic, cultural significance of the total Moon to our ancestors, who nick-named every month-to-month full Moon based on key occasions in nature throughout the month in query.

I believe this reference to nature is one thing we admire extra as we become older and life will get faster, and it is an vital factor to instil in every new technology.

After all, February might see the launch of NASA’s Artemis II mission, which can see human beings return to the Moon for the primary time because the Apollo missions.

It’s a good time to be a fan of the Moon, and a good time to get my son passionate in regards to the night time sky.

That’s why this weekend I’ll be setting my alarm additional early, and why I hope you do too.

If you do observe or {photograph} the Moon this weekend, share your adventures and pictures with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com