What is the story about?
This weekend offers a great chance to catch February’s full moon, known as the Snow Moon, lighting up the sky just as NASA gets ready for a major mission
to circle the moon. The moon reaches its fullest point at 5:09 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 1, 2026. That timing means it will rise near sunset and look especially big and bright low in the eastern sky. Even if clouds block the exact peak, the moon will still appear full and round Saturday night and Monday night too.
Why Is It Called the Snow Moon?
Full moons have long carried names tied to seasonal changes and weather patterns, a tradition that goes back centuries before modern calendars. February’s moon earned the name Snow Moon because this month often brings heavy snowfalls across much of North America. Other groups had their own names for it. The Comanche people called it the Sleet Moon, the Creek tribe referred to it as the Wind Moon, and the Shawnee named it the Crow Moon. Some sources also mention Storm Moon or Hungry Moon as alternative names, reflecting the harsh winter conditions and scarce food in earlier times.Here Is What You Need To Know
A full moon happens when the sun, Earth, and moon line up almost perfectly, a position astronomers call syzygy. The sun lights up the entire side of the moon that faces Earth, so it looks completely round from our viewpoint.The moon doesn’t have to be at its exact peak to look full. It appears nearly full for a couple of days before and after, giving sky-watchers extra chances to spot it if Sunday evening is cloudy or busy.
Why This Full Moon Feels Especially Timely
NASA’s Artemis II mission, which could launch in February 2026, will send four astronauts on a trip around the moon, the first crewed mission to do so in more than 50 years. The timing makes this a perfect moment for people to pay attention to the moon and get familiar with how it looks in the sky.Whether you’re hoping to see the bright disk rise over the horizon or just want to enjoy a clear winter night, step outside Saturday, Sunday, or Monday evening and look east after sunset. Dress warmly, find a spot with a clear view, and take in February’s Snow Moon while it shines at its brightest.
