This January wolf moon will be your last chance to see a supermoon until the end 2026
It’s the first supermoon of the year—and after January, stargazers won’t see another for many months. Here's how to see it.
If you’ve been hoping to spot a supermoon, mark your calendar. The full "wolf moon" on January 3 will appear bigger and brighter than usual—and it’s the last supermoon we’ll see until November 2026.
A supermoon generally occurs when the moon’s full phase coincides with its close approach to Earth, known as its perigee. During these events, the orb can look up to 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than a micromoon, its farthest and faintest counterpart.
The New Year’s supermoon will reach peak illumination around 5 a.m. EST on January 3, but that’s not the only time to watch it. Here’s how, when, and where to see January’s jumbo moon.
When to watch the January 3 supermoon
With clear skies, you can watch the supermoon all night from January 2-3. Yet for the most dramatic view, it’s best to watch as it rises and sets. That’s right around sunset and sunrise, respectively.
Here’s why: According to NASA, the human eye perceives the moon as especially large when it’s near the horizon, even though it’s the same size when it’s overhead. It’s an optical trick known as the moon illusion.
The moonrise color only adds to the awe. Overhead, the full moon looks bright white; on the horizon, it glows an eerie orange. That’s because the moonlight travels through more of the atmosphere when it’s low in the sky. The blue wavelengths scatter, but longer red wavelengths pass through it, giving the sphere a tangerine tinge.
This month’s supermoon comes with several treats: luminous Jupiter will travel near it all night on January 3, as will winter constellation Orion. Keep watch for Saturn, which glows in the southwest sky around moonrise, too.
How to see the next supermoon
Unlike meteor showers and northern lights, you don’t need remote, inky skies to enjoy the supermoon. It’s bright enough to admire anywhere, even from light-polluted cities. The most important factor? Choosing a moonrise or moonset lookout with unobstructed horizon views.
The January moon rises in the northeast the evenings of January 2 and 3. It travels high in the sky throughout twilight before setting in the west around sunrise. If you’re moon-watching in the late night or early morning, monitor for a concurrent and equally marvelous space sight: fireballs.
(Here are nine other night sky events to see in January.)
This month’s supermoon coincides with the January 2 to 3 peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower, an event known for its exceptionally bright meteors, known as fireballs. While the lunar glare will obscure much of the action, the Quadrantids’ vivid fireballs can cut through the moonlight, especially during peak activity from midnight to the pre-dawn hours.
Do I need a telescope to see the supermoon?
The full moon is large enough to admire with the naked eye. While you could also use a telescope or stargazing binoculars to examine its intricate details, it’s best to do that outside of the moon’s brightest phase. Try the mid-gibbous period to see landscapes like vast lunar craters and mountain peaks.
How to photograph a supermoon
Photographing the supermoon requires a bit of know-how. If you’re using a mirrorless or DSLR camera, grab a tripod and telephoto lens and aim to capture it during the dramatic, orange-hued moonrise. Get creative with foreground details; skyscrapers, trees, peaks, or even wildlife can add scale.
(How to take stellar photographs of the night sky.)
For supermoon photography on a smartphone, take the same approach, but use your phone camera’s optical zoom (versus digital pinch-to-zoom) at around 5x for those tight and eye-popping shots. A smartphone tripod will come in handy.
