The first full Moon of the year will illuminate our sky tonight.
Named the ‘Wolf Moon’, tonight’s full Moon is the first of 2025 and the second of winter, marking a highly anticipated date in the lunar calendar.
A full Moon happens when the side of the Moon facing the Earth is fully lit up by the Sun. It rises around sunset and sets around sunrise.
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Because of the gravity interplay between the Moon and the Earth, the Moon is slowed into a rotation at the same speed of Earth – a process known as being ‘tidally locked’, according to NASA
Moon-watchers are therefore always able to see the same side of the Moon as the terminator (the line between the lit and shadowed sides of the moon) moves across the Moon’s surface throughout the lunar month.
During a full Moon, the Earth-facing side of the Moon is fully lit, revealing its characteristic lunar landscapes that many in the Northern Hemisphere call the ‘Man in the Moon’.
As the Royal Observatory explains, the different lunar seas make up the ‘Man in the Moon’s’ face. The Seas of Serenity and Rain are his eyes; the Sea of Clouds forms his mouth; and the Seas of Islands and Vapours make up his nose.
What makes this full moon so special?
For some lucky viewers, tonight’s ‘Man in the Moon’ will have a special companion.
The Moon will rise to occult Mars tonight, meaning the Red Planet will be eclipsed by and vanish behind the ‘Wolf Moon’. Mars will disappear behind the Moon for just over an hour.
Tonight’s moon should be visible when looking east from the UK -Credit:Getty Images
Sadly, the UK will not be able to witness the Moon blocking Mars as we’re not in the correct alignment. This will only be visible to stargazers in the US and West Africa.
That said, the UK will be able to see the two celestial bodies close together in the sky. Mars and the Moon will draw closer together, before the Red Planet skims the Northern edge of the lunar disc in the early hours of tomorrow morning (14 January), according to BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
That’s not all. Mars is also having a particularly special week as it reaches opposition on 16 January, shining at its biggest and brightest for more than two years.
How the ‘Wolf Moon’ got its name
The name ‘Wolf Moon’ is believed to have originated from North American Indigenous nations when wolves would have been heard howling in the night after growing hungry during the long winter season.
“The January Full Moon is known as the Wolf Moon by some European cultures due to the evocative calls of wolves as they search for food in the depth of winter,” according to Dr. Darren Baskill, an astrophysicist from the University of Sussex.
“Wolves were hunted to extinction in the UK just 250 years ago, being Britain’s last apex predator to go extinct,” Baskill told BBC Science Focus. “But their presence is still remembered today through the oral tradition of the names of the Full Moon.”
How to see the ‘Wolf Moon’
The moon is expected to reach its peak at 10.26 pm UK time, but local moonrise times will vary depending on where you are in the country.
Tonight’s moon should be visible when looking east from the UK, although visibility might be restricted by some clouds so be sure to check your local weather forecast.
If you fancy braving the cold weather, the Moon and stars can be best viewed up high, so driving or hiking to your closest hill might provide the best viewing spot for the ‘Wolf Moon’.
Full Moon schedule for the rest of 2025
Each month’s full Moon is given a name. For example, June has a ‘Strawberry Moon’ and September has a ‘Corn Moon’. Here is a list of when to expect the rest of 2025’s full Moons:
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Monday, January 13 — Wolf Moon
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Wednesday, February 12 — Snow Moon
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Friday, March 14 — Worm Moon
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Saturday, April 12 — Pink Moon
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Monday, May 12 — Flower Moon
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Wednesday, June 11 — Strawberry Moon
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Thursday, July 10 — Buck Moon
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Saturday, August 9 — Sturgeon Moon
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Sunday, September 7 — Corn Moon
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Monday, October 6 — Hunter’s Moon (Supermoon)
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Wednesday, November 5 — Beaver Moon (Supermoon)
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Thursday, December 4 — Cold Moon (Supermoon)