The first full moon of 2026, traditionally known as the "Wolf Moon," will occur on January 3, 2026, and is designated as a supermoon. This celestial event is anticipated to exhibit increased brightness and apparent size due to the Moon's proximity to Earth (perigee) and Earth's simultaneous closest approach to the Sun (perihelion). The January supermoon also concludes a sequence of four consecutive supermoons. The year 2026 will feature additional notable lunar events, including total and partial lunar eclipses, a "Blue Moon," and further supermoons.
The January 2026 Wolf Supermoon
On January 3, 2026, the full Moon will reach its peak illumination at 5:03 a.m. EST (1003 GMT). This event is classified as a supermoon because the Moon will be in its full phase while at perigee, the point in its elliptical orbit closest to Earth. At this time, the Moon will be approximately 362,312 kilometers (225,130 miles) from Earth. This proximity is projected to result in an apparent increase in the Moon's size of approximately 14 percent and an increase in brightness of about 30 percent when compared to its most distant orbital point.
The supermoon phenomenon will coincide with Earth reaching its perihelion, its closest orbital point to the Sun, which occurs annually around January 3. Earth's perihelion will position the planet at a distance of 147,099,900 kilometers from the Sun, approximately 3.4 percent closer than Earth's farthest orbital point (aphelion). This closer solar proximity is estimated to enhance the Moon's brightness by an additional 6.5 percent compared to when Earth is at aphelion, contributing further to the Moon's illumination.
Viewing Conditions:
- The Moon will appear nearly full to observers on the nights immediately preceding and following its peak illumination on January 3.
- Local moonrise and moonset times will vary by geographic location. On January 2, the Moon will be visible rising on the eastern horizon at dusk, shortly before local sunset. On January 3, it will rise after sunset in a darker sky.
- When close to the horizon, the Moon may exhibit the "moon illusion," a perceptual effect that can make it appear larger, and may display an orange-yellow hue due to the scattering of bluer wavelengths of light by Earth's atmosphere.
- Reduced humidity, often associated with cold air, can contribute to clearer skies in the Northern Hemisphere, potentially offering favorable viewing conditions, provided local weather is clear.
- On January 3, the planet Jupiter will be visible less than 4 degrees to the right of the lunar disk.
Nomenclature
January's full moon carries several traditional names:
- Wolf Moon: A reference to wolves historically known to howl during winter nights.
- Moon After Yule: An Anglo-Saxon designation.
- Severe Moon: Used by North America's indigenous Dakota people, reflecting the month's harsh cold.
The term "supermoon" is an astronomical designation for a full moon that occurs at or near perigee.
Other Notable Lunar Events in 2026
Earth possesses one natural satellite, distinguishing it from planets like Saturn, which has numerous moons, or Mercury and Venus, which have none. In 2026, in addition to the January Wolf Supermoon, several other significant lunar events are scheduled:
- March 3, 2026 – Total Lunar Eclipse: A full Moon occurs when Earth is positioned between the Moon and the Sun, resulting in the full illumination of the Moon's Earth-facing side. A lunar eclipse happens when the Moon passes through Earth's shadow as the Sun, Earth, and Moon align. During a total lunar eclipse, the entire lunar surface is covered by Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to darken and take on a reddish hue due to sunlight being refracted by Earth's atmosphere. This total lunar eclipse will be visible from North America, South America, eastern Asia, and Australia, and is safe to view without protective eyewear.
- May 2026 – Blue Moon: The year 2026 will feature 13 full Moons. Two full Moons will occur in May, on May 1 and May 31. The second full Moon within a single calendar month is termed a "monthly blue Moon."
- August 2026 – Partial Lunar Eclipse: A partial lunar eclipse will take place in August 2026. In this event, only a portion of the Moon's Earth-facing side enters Earth's shadow. This eclipse will be visible from North America, South America, Europe, and Africa. Most regions in Asia and Australia will not observe this eclipse.
- September 26, 2026 – Harvest Moon: The Harvest Moon is defined as the full Moon occurring closest to the September equinox. Historically, its proximity to the equinox resulted in similar moonrise times over several consecutive nights, providing consistent nighttime illumination for agricultural harvesting.
- November 24, 2026 – Supermoon (Beaver Moon): The second supermoon of 2026 will occur in November. This full Moon is traditionally known as the Beaver Moon. It is expected to appear near the Pleiades star cluster.
- December 24, 2026 – Supermoon (Cold Moon): The final supermoon of 2026 will coincide with Christmas Eve. This full Moon is traditionally designated the Cold Moon.