January 2026 is set to open with a celestial spectacle that skywatchers and casual stargazers alike won’t want to miss. The first full moon of the year, known as the Wolf Moon, will rise in dramatic fashion, and this time it’s not just any full moon—it’s a supermoon, promising a night sky that’s brighter and more captivating than usual. But that’s just the beginning. This lunar event coincides with Earth’s closest approach to the sun, called perihelion, and comes amid a flurry of other astronomical happenings, making the start of 2026 a feast for anyone who enjoys looking up.
According to EarthSky.org, the Wolf Moon for 2026 will rise on the evening of January 2 and reach its peak fullness in the early morning hours of January 3. The exact moment of fullness hits at 5:03 a.m. EST (10:03 GMT), but the real magic unfolds after sunset on both nights, when the moon sits low and luminous on the horizon. This year’s Wolf Moon is also a supermoon, meaning the moon’s orbit brings it closer to Earth than usual, making it appear larger and brighter in the sky (as EarthSky.org and Astronomy.com both confirm).
So, why do we call it the Wolf Moon? The name stretches back centuries, rooted in the traditions of Native American and Colonial American cultures. January’s long, cold nights were often marked by the howling of hungry wolves outside settlements, a haunting sound that became synonymous with the heart of winter. Over time, the name stuck, and even now, the Wolf Moon carries an air of resilience and survival, a reminder of the harshness of the season and the promise of renewal as the year begins (as detailed by USA Today and Astronomy.com).
This Wolf Moon is not just the first of the year—it’s also the final supermoon in a sequence that began in late 2025, according to the late astronomer Fred Espanek’s research cited by Astronomy.com. Supermoons don’t happen every month; they’re special moments when the full moon aligns with its closest approach to Earth, or perigee. For this event, the moon reaches perigee at 4:44 p.m. EST on January 1, 2026, coming within 223,910 miles (360,348 kilometers) of our planet. The result? A moon that’s not only full, but also appears noticeably larger and more radiant than the typical full moon, especially during moonrise and moonset.
NASA points out that “supermoon” isn’t an official scientific term, but it’s widely used when the moon comes within about 90 percent of its closest possible distance to Earth. The difference is real: the moon can seem bigger and brighter, sometimes enough to stop even distracted city-dwellers in their tracks. The best time to catch the Wolf Supermoon is soon after sunset, when the moon is low and the so-called "moon illusion" makes it look even larger—no telescope or fancy equipment needed, just a clear view of the horizon and a willingness to brave the winter chill.
But the sky’s show doesn’t end there. On January 3, while the Wolf Supermoon gleams overhead, Earth itself will be at perihelion—the closest point in its orbit to the sun. This doesn’t change the seasons (those are governed by the tilt of Earth’s axis), but it does add an extra layer to the night’s cosmic drama. As EarthSky.org and Astronomy.com both note, the timing feels almost poetic, as if the universe is stacking its most dazzling cards at the start of the year.
For those keeping an eye on other celestial players, Jupiter is getting ready to claim the spotlight as well. About a week after the Wolf Moon, the solar system’s largest planet will reach opposition—meaning it rises at sunset and sets at sunrise, shining at its brightest for the year. On the morning of January 3, the full moon will appear in the constellation Gemini, hanging just to the lower right of bright Jupiter, according to Astronomy.com. It’s a pairing that promises a striking sight for anyone willing to rise before dawn or stay out late enough to catch the two giants sharing the sky.
January’s skywatching calendar is packed. The Quadrantid meteor shower, one of the year’s best, also peaks in early January. However, the glare from the full Wolf Supermoon will likely wash out all but the brightest meteors, making the shower tough to spot this year, as EarthSky.org warns. Still, the moon’s brilliance will more than make up for any lost shooting stars.
The Wolf Moon is just the first in a parade of full moons for 2026, each with its own traditional name and backstory. The next full moon, the Snow Moon, arrives on February 1, named for the heavy snowfalls that often blanket the Northern Hemisphere that time of year. These names, passed down through generations, reflect the rhythms of nature and the cycles of life—reminders that, even in our digital age, the sky’s ancient patterns still shape our sense of time and wonder.
The phases of the moon are a familiar cycle: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. The synodic month—the time from one full moon to the next—lasts about 29.5 days. Though the full moon is technically a fleeting moment of perfect alignment, it appears full for about three nights to the naked eye, giving skywatchers plenty of opportunity to soak in its glow.
For those curious about the nitty-gritty details, Astronomy.com provides a full rundown of moonrise and moonset times for the first week of January. On January 2, the moon rises at 3:50 p.m. and sets at 6:57 a.m. the next morning, appearing more than 99 percent illuminated. By the evening of January 3, the moon will be waning gibbous, but still nearly full, and will rise at 5:05 p.m. and set at 7:55 a.m. the next day. Each night, the moon will drift a little farther from full, but its presence will linger in the sky, a reminder of the spectacle that opened the year.
So, as 2026 gets underway, the universe is offering a reminder to pause, look up, and take in the grandeur above. The Wolf Supermoon, shining bright and close, is more than just an astronomical event—it’s a moment to reconnect with the rhythms of nature and the stories that have guided humanity for generations. For a few nights, at least, the sky will be anything but quiet.
