The Wolf Moon, The First Full Moon of the Year, Will Reach Its Peak *Today*

Jake Smith
·2 min read
Photo credit: fitimi - Getty Images
Photo credit: fitimi - Getty Images

From Women's Health

  • The Wolf Moon, the first full moon of 2021, reaches peak illumination at 2:16 p.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021.

  • With a long, high arc, the Wolf Moon is one of the easiest full moons to spot this year.

  • Named for the howling of wolves often heard this time of year, January’s full moon also roughly marks the halfway point of winter.

January is a time for new beginnings, both for you and the cosmic calendar. What better way to ring in the changes of 2021 than with the first full moon of the year?

The full Wolf Moon will rise on Thursday, Jan. 28, reaching its peak at 2:16 p.m. EST, according to NASA, but it won’t be clearly visible until it rises past the horizon around sunset in the evening. Thanks to a high trajectory that mirrors the summer sun, prime viewing hours should last from dusk until dawn. It’ll also appear full Wednesday through early Saturday morning, in case you miss the viewing window on Thursday.

If you’re watching around dusk, look to the low eastern sky, EarthSky recommends. Catching a glimpse of the Wolf Moon shouldn’t be difficult—simply look to the horizon or center of the sky, depending on the time of night. To give yourself the best possible view, find an unobstructed spot with as little artificial light as possible (and remember to bundle up if you’re outside).

As the night passes, the moon will climb to a high position overhead, reaching its zenith close to midnight. As day approaches, the Wolf Moon will sink in the western sky.

The second full moon of the winter season is traditionally called the Wolf Moon because the animals were heard howling most this time of year, per The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Another name for January’s full moon is the Center Moon, which was used by the Assiniboine native people to roughly measure winter’s midpoint. (This year, Feb. 3 marks the exact middle of winter.)

The next full moon, the Snow Moon, occurs on Saturday, Feb. 27.

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