The January Sky Spectacle: Moon and Jupiter Team Up

In early January 2026, sky gazers will be treated to a special show. The first full moon of the year, nicknamed the Wolf Moon, will light up the night sky. This moon is extra special because it's a supermoon. That means it will look bigger and brighter than usual. The Wolf Moon gets its name from the howling wolves that were often heard in January. Different cultures have other names for it, like the Cold Moon or the Frost Exploding Moon. In Europe, it's known as the Moon After Yule, a festival celebrated after the winter solstice. The best time to see the Wolf Moon is at moonrise on January 3rd. If you look closely, you'll see a bright star called Pollux on its left and the giant planet Jupiter on its right. Jupiter will be at its brightest in 2026, making the view even more spectacular.This full moon is also unique because it's the closest to the winter solstice. That means it will travel the highest path across the night sky in the Northern Hemisphere. It's like the winter sun mimicking the summer sun. The Wolf Moon is the fourth supermoon in a row, but it won't be the biggest. It's called a supermoon because it's full when the moon is closest to Earth. On January 3rd, the moon will be about 225, 130 miles away from us. Interestingly, this event happens when Earth is also at its closest point to the sun, called perihelion. At that time, Earth is about 91. 4 million miles from the sun, which is closer than its average distance.