February’s full moon will attain peak illumination at 5:09 p.m. EST (2209 GMT) on Feb. 1, when the moon’s orbit locations it immediately reverse the solar in Earth’s sky, making it seem totally lit from our perspective.
The February full moon is usually known as the “Snow Moon“, in reference to the heavy snowfall that usually coats the bottom that point of 12 months.
When to see the February full moon
Gaze eastward at sunset on Feb. 1 to witness the full Snow Moon slip over the horizon, close to the stars of the constellation Cancer, the Crab. It will appear particularly large while close to the skyline thanks to a phenomenon known as the “moon illusion”, which tricks our brains into thinking that the lunar disk is larger when close to foreground objects, even though its angular size remains unchanged.
Earth’s atmosphere can also tint the Snow Moon a yellow or orange hue, as shorter blue wavelengths of light reflected from its surface are scattered during its prolonged journey through Earth’s atmosphere.
The table below displays local full moon timings for when the moon is 100% illuminated for a handful of cities spread across the globe (note local moonrise and moonset times will vary depending on your location):
City | Local time |
|---|---|
New York | 5:09 p.m. EST on Feb. 1 |
London | 10:09 p.m. GMT on Feb. 1 |
Beijing | 6:09 a.m. CST on Feb. 2 |
Tokyo | 7:09 a.m. JST on Feb. 2 |
Sydney | 9:09 a.m. AEDT on Feb. 2 |
Why it’s called the Snow Moon
February’s full moon is also known as the Snow Moon, in reference to the abundance of snow that falls in the mid-winter month. It has also been called the “Hungry Moon” to reflect the lack of food available in the winter months and also as the “Bear Moon” by some Indigenous North American tribes to mark the period when bear cubs are born, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
It is also generally often called the “Storm Moon” for the tumultuous climate that sometimes grips the Northern Hemisphere within the month of February, per the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
Cultural traditions and festivals
The February full moon coincides with Guru Ravidas Jayanti, a celebration marking the start of the Indian non secular chief Guru Ravidas, whose teachings emphasised equality and challenged the caste systemThe pageant is noticed with processions, holy baths and acts of worship.
In India, the day of the complete moon is often known as Magha Purnima, when devotees interact in acts of charity, fasting and prayer, in response to The Economic Times.
What else to see within the sky across the full moon
Round this time, it’s possible you’ll discover Jupiter appearing as a brilliant “evening star” high above the eastern horizon, with the bright stars Castor and Pollux of the constellation Gemini shining to its left. Jupiter will make for a brilliant stargazing target in early February, less than a month after reaching opposition on Jan. 10, when it sat opposite the sun in Earth’s sky, heralding its brightest appearance in 2026.
The familiar stars of the constellation Orion, the Hunter, will be visible twinkling to the right of Jupiter on the night of Feb. 1, with the light of the red giant star Aldebaran, which represents one of the eyes of the great bull represented in the constellation Taurus, winking above.
Regulus — which represents the heart of the lion in the constellation Leo — can be found shining a little over 10 degrees to the lower left of the lunar disk as it rises higher in the winter sky. On the following night (Feb. 2), the moon will pass directly in front of Regulus, occulting the star for observers across parts of North America and Africa, according to In-the-Sky.org.
In the meantime, Saturn might be seen as a vibrant level of sunshine shining above the western horizon at sundown on Feb. 1, near the celebrities of the constellation Pisces, although the ringed planet will set swiftly out of view lower than 4 hours after sunset.
Look to the east at sundown on Feb. 1 to see the fully-lit Snow Moon shine lower than 10 levels — roughly the width of your outstretched fist — to the decrease left of the Beehive Cluster, which lurks within the coronary heart of the constellation Most cancers. The huge open cluster performs host to roughly 1,000 vibrant younger stars, although its gentle might be extremely difficult to identify within the glare of the complete Snow Moon.
Observing ideas
February’s full moon is a superb alternative to discover the lunar seas that served as landing sites for the Apollo-era missions of the 1960s & 70s, as the entirety of Earth’s natural satellite is bathed in the light of the sun.
Why not also try your hand at astrophotography by using a DSLR camera and telephoto lens to capture the scarred face of the lunar disk and track how the shifting shadows alter its appearance throughout the month? Be sure to make use of our expert guide to photographing the moon, along with our picks of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography, if you want to switch out or improve your equipment.
Top tips to photograph the moon
- Use a tripod to keep your camera as steady as possible.
- Use a remote shutter/timer to prevent camera wobble.
- A smartphone stargazing app can help you find the exact point of moonrise on your local horizon.
- A lens with a focal length of 12-50 mm is useful for landscape photography, while a focal length of at least 400 mm is advised for capturing more detailed views of the lunar surface.
- The moon can be made to appear particularly large while close to the horizon next to foreground objects, where it may take on an orange-yellow appearance thanks to Rayleigh scattering. A cleaner, more “classic” view can be captured as it soars high overhead.
Upcoming full moons
Month | Full moon name | Date and time |
|---|---|---|
March | Worm Moon | Mar. 3, 6:38 a.m. EST (1138 GMT) |
April | Pink Moon | Apr. 1, 11:12 p.m. EDT (0312 GMT April 2) |
May | Flower Moon | May 1, 1.23 p.m. EDT (1723 GMT) |
These times mark the exact instant of full illumination. Your own moonrise or moonset may be hours earlier or later, depending on your location. For the best viewing plan, use an app such as Stellarium or SkySafari 7 Pro to find your local moonrise time.
Editor’s Note: Did you capture a stunning picture of the moon and want to share it with Space.com’s readers? Then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.
