Overview
- The first full moon of 2026 reaches peak illumination at about 5:03 a.m. EST on Jan. 3, appearing full through the nights of Jan. 2–3.
- January’s full moon is a supermoon occurring near lunar perigee, making it appear up to roughly 14% larger and about 30% brighter than the year’s faintest full moon.
- The most photogenic views come at moonrise on Jan. 2–3 during blue hour on the eastern horizon, and this winter full moon rides highest and lingers longest for Northern Hemisphere observers.
- The Quadrantid meteor shower runs Dec. 28–Jan. 12 and peaks around Jan. 2–4, but the glare from the full moon will hide most meteors except the brightest fireballs; block the moon to improve visibility.
- Jan. 3 is the first of three supermoons in 2026, with others on Nov. 24 and Dec. 23, in a year featuring 13 full moons including a Blue Moon on May 31 and a December supermoon projected to be the closest since 2019.