January’s Full Supermoon Will Look Bigger and Brighter Than Usual—How to See the Wolf Moon

Skywatchers will be able to start the new year off with a spectacular celestial sighting. The first full moon of 2026, which is also a supermoon, will occur on the night of January 3, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac.

Because it's a supermoon, which happens when the moon is at its closest point to Earth (known as the perigee), it will appear noticeably larger and brighter than a typical full moon. It will reach peak fullness at 5:03 a.m. EST.

According to NASA, at its closest point, a supermoon can appear up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than the faintest moon of the year, which occurs when the satellite is farthest from Earth in its orbit.

January's full moon is commonly referred to as the Wolf Moon, because wolves are more likely to be heard howling during this time of year. It’s also known as the Center Moon, a moniker given to it by the Assiniboine people of the Northern Great Plains because it roughly marks the middle of the cold season.

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Other traditional names inspired by January's harsh weather include Frost Exploding Moon (from the Cree), Freeze Up Moon (from the Algonquin), Severe Moon, and Hard Moon (from the Dakota), which is a nod to fallen snow developing a hard crust.

January's supermoon will be the fourth and final supermoon to occur in a row, with the three previous ones happening in October, November, and December. Supermoons aren't very rare, but it is less common for four to happen sequentially.

For the most dramatic view of the full moon, look up just after moonrise. This is when the moon appears larger because it's near the horizon—a phenomenon known as "moon illusion." Go to TimeandDate.com to find what time moonrise is in your area. Find an area with minimal light pollution to see the moon at its brightest.

The next supermoon won't be until November 24, 2026, so be sure to catch this one at the beginning of the new year.