First Full Moon Of 2026: What Is The Wolf Supermoon And Best Time To See It

The first full moon of 2026, popularly known as the 'Wolf Supermoon' will light up the night sky this weekend. The lunar event peaks on January 3, 2026, at 10:03 GMT, marking January's full moon and the first of the new

year.The Wolf Moon is the traditional name given to January's full moon. It is a reference to wolves that were often heard howling during long, cold winter nights.This year, the moon also qualifies as a supermoon, meaning it will appear noticeably larger and brighter than an average full moon.

What Is A 'Supermoon'?

A 'supermoon' occurs when a full Moon coincides with the Moon's closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit, a point known as perigee. While not an official astronomical term, NASA says it is commonly used to "describe a full Moon that comes within at least 90 per cent of perigee."NASA explains that during its roughly 27-day orbit around Earth, the Moon reaches both its perigee - about 363,300 km away - and its farthest point, or apogee, roughly 405,500 km from Earth.The space agency notes that Supermoons, which occur only three to four times a year, often appear consecutively.The upcoming Wolf Moon is also the final supermoon in a sequence that began in October 2025, which included October’s Harvest Moon, November’s Beaver Moon, and December’s Cold Moon.

When And Where To See The Wolf Supermoon

Date: January 3, 2026Time: Peak full moon at 10:03 GMT (5:03 a.m. EST)Best viewing time: Evenings of January 2 and 3, shortly after sunset