The Wolf Moon lit up the sky on January 3, 2026. This full moon, recognized as the first of the year, also coincided with a supermoon, making it appear brighter and larger than usual. Seen beside Jupiter, the scene brought winter landscapes to life across the Northern Hemisphere.
At its peak, the Wolf Moon reached full phase at 5:02 a.m. EST. What’s interesting is that it was only about 225,130 miles (362,312 kilometers) from Earth, 5.7% closer than average. This proximity allowed it to shine with a more intense glow. According to the Time and Date, other names for this full moon include the “stay home moon” and the “quiet moon.”
Supermoons can seem up to 10% larger, especially during moonrise when it appears near objects on the ground. This optical illusion, known as the “moon illusion,” is just a trick of the mind, as explained by NASA.
This celestial event ushered in a year full of lunar activities, including two lunar eclipses and three more supermoons. The next full moon will be the Snow Moon on February 1, 2026.
There’s something special about the night sky that captivates many. Studies show that gazing at the moon can boost your mood and promote feelings of well-being. Social media was alive with reactions during the Wolf Moon, with users sharing their best captures and expressing a sense of wonder. Many took to platforms like Instagram and Twitter, using hashtags like #WolfMoon and #Supermoon to join in the excitement.
Looking ahead, space exploration continues to make headlines. NASA’s Artemis II mission, set for February 5, 2026, will mark the first crewed journey to the moon since the Apollo era. Four astronauts will embark on a mission that takes them about 4,600 miles beyond the moon, a remarkable distance for human space travel. The upcoming Artemis III mission aims to land astronauts near the moon’s South Pole in 2027. This link to our past in space exploration makes events like the Wolf Moon even more meaningful.
2026 promises to be an exciting year for stargazers, with 13 full moons and various eclipses on the calendar. The Wolf Moon was just the beginning. Keep your gaze upward!
For more on lunar events and space exploration, check out this article from Forbes.
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