The 1st full moon of 2026 rises tonight! Here’s what to expect from January’s supermoon Wolf Moon

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this January 2026 full moon It’s on us! Tonight, the Wolf Moon lingers on the horizon, kicking off the spectacular natural light show of 2026’s first full moon (and supermoon).

one full moon Occurs when the moon is opposite sun exist EarthThe moon’s sky – an event that occurs only once every 27 days in its cyclic orbit – causes the lunar disk to appear completely illuminated from our perspective. January’s Full Moon officially reaches its maximum illumination at 5:03 a.m. EDT (1003 GMT) on January 3, although on surrounding nights, to the casual observer, the lunar disc actually appears full. Local moonrise and moonset times depend on your location.

January’s full moon is known as the Wolf Moon, a reference to the hungry predators that howl during the long winter nights. It is also sometimes known by its Anglo-Saxon name “Christmas Moon”, based on time and date The Dakota, the indigenous people of North America, called it “Hard Moon” to reflect the month’s severe cold. old farmer’s almanac.

This month’s full moon coincides with the moment when the moon is closest to Earth – a point in its orbit called perihelion — produce beautiful supermoon It appears 30% larger and 14% larger than the most distant full moon of the year. January’s supermoon is the last of four consecutive supermoons. After that, we’ll have to wait until November 24, 2026 to see another one!

When can you see the “Wolf Moon” rise?

At dusk on January 2, looking at the eastern horizon, you can see the “Wolf Moon” rising shortly before sunset local time. It appears particularly large as it approaches the horizon due to a phenomenon calledmoon illusion” This visual effect makes the low-hanging satellite appear too large.

You may notice this effect more at sunset the next day (January 3), when the satellite will soon rise in the darker sky back The sun was setting. You may also notice moon As it approaches the horizon, it takes on an orange-yellow hue because of its long journey Earth’s atmosphere Scattering the blue wavelengths of reflected light while allowing red wavelengths to pass relatively unhindered.

On January 3, bright Jupiter will shine less than 4 degrees to the right of the lunar disk. For context, the width of three middle fingers held up in the night sky is equivalent to 5 degrees.

Why not grab your camera and try taking photos of the first full moon of the year with one of our handheld devices? Guide to Earth’s Natural Satellite Imaging? You may also want to check out our roundup best camera and Lenses for astrophotography Make sure you’re ready to capture everything the night sky has to offer in 2026.

Editor’s note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com readers, please send your photos, comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.