The first full moon of winter and 2025 – the Wolf Moon – will rise on Monday, but it will light up the early evening sky on Tuesday as it rises in the east at dusk. As it emerges below the eastern horizon, it will be bathed in delicate shades of orange, yellow and even pink.

The full moon in January is called the Wolf Moon, but is also an Old Moon, Ice Moon and Snow Moon and will occur in the constellation Gemini.

Here’s everything you need to know about it, including when, where and how best to see it from your location:

When is the Wolf Moon?

The Wolf Moon will become full at 5:28 p.m. EST on Monday, January 13, 2025, but the best time to see it rise is when the moon rises in your location on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.

Best time to see the full wolf moon

A full moon looks best when it appears on the eastern horizon just after the sun has set in the west. It will look more striking than usual and will be a beautiful, muted orange color. The best time for viewing is a few minutes after moonrise. The exact timing depends on your location.

This month there is a significant amount of time between sunset and moonrise in North America, with Europe getting a better view of the rising full moon.

Tuesday, January 14th:

• In New York, sunset will be at 4:52 p.m. EST and moonrise will be at 5:40 p.m. EST.
• In Los Angeles, sunset will be at 5:05 p.m. PST and moonrise will be at 6:04 p.m. PST.
• In London, sunset is at 16:19 GMT and moonrise is at 16:44 GMT.

How to see the full wolf moon

Go somewhere high up that faces east or visit an east-facing shoreline. From both locations you’ll have a clear view of the horizon – and the best view of the Wolf Moon if the sky is clear. The naked eye is perfect, but with binoculars you get a stunning close-up.

When to see the Wolf Moon obscuring Mars

Although the Wolf Moon’s rise will be best seen at dusk on Tuesday, January 14, a near-full moon will obscure Mars the night before. This will take place high in the sky and will be visible across North America. The promotion takes place between 8:44 p.m. EST on Monday, January 13th and ends at 12:52 a.m. EST on Tuesday, January 14th.

Where you are determines what you see and when. The event – Mars disappearing (ingress) and then reappearing (egress) – lasts just over an hour. In-the-sky.org has a helpful map to help you plan.

Why the Wolf Moon will hang high

The January 2025 full moon is the highest hanging full moon in the Northern Hemisphere this year. That’s because the moon reflects the sun’s path across the sky, and a full moon is, by definition, opposite the sun. Since the sun is lowest in the sky during the winter solstice in late December, the full moon closest to it must be at its highest. Additionally, the Wolf Moon will remain in the night sky longer than any other full moon of the year.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon after the Wolf Moon will be the Snow Full Moon – the second full winter moon in the Northern Hemisphere – on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 5:41 p.m. EST.

I wish you clear skies and big eyes.