This new year comes with a new moon. Skywatchers are in for a treat this weekend as 2026 rings in the first supermoon of the year, along with a Quadrantid meteor shower.
The January full “wolf moon” is forecast to appear overnight into tomorrow morning Saturday, January 3, peaking at 5:03 a.m. ET when it will be at its fullest, according to EarthSky.
However, don’t be fooled: It will appear full both nights, due to its close proximity to Earth (making it appear 14% larger), and proximity to Jupiter and Gemini’s twin stars—all of which will make it appear even brighter.
All that light, however, could make it harder to see the Quadrantid meteor shower: bright, short-lived “fireballs” that can streak across the sky at up to 120 per hour, and come from debris left behind by asteroid 2003 EH1.
January’s supermoon is, technically, the last in a string of four consecutive supermoons that started in late 2025. Simultaneously, it’s the first of three supermoons on deck for 2026. The others follow in November and December.
Why is it called a wolf moon?
January’s annual “wolf moon” is thought to be named after the animal, which is known to howl during long winter nights, per the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Native Americans used the moons to track the seasons, and the wolf moon may have gotten its name from European settlers.
How to view this ‘wolf moon’
To view the wolf moon, look to the eastern horizon tonight at dusk, Friday January 2, right before sunset.
“It will appear particularly large while close to the horizon thanks to a phenomenon called the “moon illusion,” a visual effect that makes low-hanging moons seem oversized,” according to Space.com. (Also, check out the sunset on Saturday, January 3, for same effect.)
This winter’s supermoon will be easier and more convenient to see because it will be visible low in the sky once its dark, and then climb higher in the sky, according to BBC’s Sky at Night magazine.
