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10h ago

Wolf Supermoon Peaks Early Jan. 3, Kicking Off 2026’s Busy Sky Calendar

A near‑perigee full Moon will look slightly larger, with an unusually high track for Northern Hemisphere viewers.

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The Geminid meteor shower peaks in the early morning hours over Austria in December.
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Overview

  • The first full moon of 2026 reaches peak illumination at 5:03 a.m. EST on Saturday, Jan. 3, and will appear full on the evenings of Jan. 2 and Jan. 3.
  • Classified as a supermoon under NASA’s definition, the Wolf Moon occurs near perigee, making it appear somewhat larger and brighter than average, especially at moonrise.
  • The timing overlaps the Quadrantid meteor shower’s brief peak around Jan. 3–4, with the bright Moon expected to wash out most faint meteors and leave mainly the brightest fireballs visible.
  • January’s full moon rides the highest arc of the year in Northern Hemisphere skies, keeping it above the horizon for longer and offering an extended viewing window.
  • This is the first of three supermoons in 2026, the year includes 13 full moons with a Blue Moon on May 31, and Jupiter reaches opposition on Jan. 10 for prime viewing.