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Like wolves, supermoons tend to come in packs. The Earth has just experienced three supermoons in a row, dating from Octoberthe fourth and final supermoon in the sequence occurring in the early hours of January 3. The Wolf Moon is also the last supermoon of 2026 until November.
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The Moon spends three to four months at a time in perigee, a fancy term that means it is as close to Earth as its elliptical orbit allows. During this time, humans call full moons supermoons. Because the Moon is physically closer to Earth than it normally is, a full moon appears brighter and larger in the sky.
The Moon will appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a micromoon.
The difference can be a moon up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a micromoon, which occurs when the moon is at its apogee or farthest point from Earth. This brightness is the real differentiator, as a supermoon is bright enough to light up your yard, especially if there is snow on the ground.
To see the brightest moon, you’ll need to stay up late on January 2 or wake up very early on January 3. According to The Farmer’s AlmanacJanuary’s supermoon will rise from the eastern horizon and cross the sky to settle in the west at sunrise. The moon will reach peak illumination at 5:03 a.m. ET. It should still be dark outside for the entire United States during this time, so everyone has a chance to see it.
If you can’t see it due to weather or other commitments, the Wolf Moon will be more than 90% full from December 31 to January 5, giving you almost a week of near-maximum light.
Since the moon is the largest and brightest object in the night sky, you won’t need special magnification to see it either. However, a good pair of binoculars or a telescope allows details of the moon’s surface are easier to seeand helps photographers take some impressive shots of the moon.
The January full moon is commonly referred to as the Wolf Moon due to increased wolf activity during this time. Not only does January mark the start of wolf season mating season in winterbut wolves are also generally more active at dusk and dawn. Dusk falls quite early in the day, especially just after the winter solstice. It used to mean that people were more likely to see a wolf or hear wolves howling in January.
