What is a Snow Moon? How to see February 2026’s full moon

What is a Snow Moon? How to see February 2026’s full moon Noora Mykkanen Published January 31, 2026 5:41pm Updated January 31, 2026 5:46pm Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments The best way to enjoy the February full moon is away from light pollution (Picture: Getty Images)

The second full moon of 2026 – also known as the Snow Moon – is set to rise in the sky tomorrow.

It will be the fifth full moon in a row, following the Wolf Moon last month, Harvest Moon in October, the Beaver Moon in November and the Cold Moon in December.

Visibility will depend on the weather, but clear skies could make it a spectacular sight.

This year, May will actually have two full moons, meaning 2026 will have 13 full moons instead of 12. The extra full moon is known as a ‘blue moon’, and happens around once every two and a half years (hence the saying ‘once in a blue moon’).

The previous full moon, Wolf Moon, rose behind St Michael’s Tower in Glastonbury in early January (Picture: Alamy Live News)

This is due to full moons happening every 29 days, while most months in our calendar have 30 or 31 days.

What is a Snow Moon?

The Snow Moon was given its seasonal name as a nod to the heavy snowfall linked to this time of year in many parts of the northern hemisphere, first named by the indigenous tribes in North America.

It is sometimes called the Storm Moon and Hungry Moon.

January’s full moon was called the Wolf Moon (Picture: Getty)

The Snow Moon is the last moon of this winter season before the meteorological spring starts.

How to see the Snow Moon

The Snow Moon will rise on Sunday, February 1, and will be at its fullest at 10.09pm GMT.

February’s full moon will grace the night skies (Picture: Getty)

This is the second full moon of 2026, and marks the moment when the Moon’s Earth-facing side is fully illuminated by the Sun.

The Moon reflects light back to Earth to provide the crystal clear version we see of it when the weather is good.

How to see the full moon

• Find a dark location The darker the sky, the better you’ll be able to see the Moon
• Dress for cold weather The temperature is falling, and Moon watching involves a lot of standing around, so keeping warm can be tricky
• Avoid light pollution If you’re near city lights, try to find a spot that’s away from the city centre
• Be patient If the sky isn’t completely clear the Moon may occasionally be obscured by cloud
• Download stargazing apps like Night Sky and Stellarium to better understand where things are in the sky

When is the next full moon in 2026?

On average, it takes around 29 and a half days for the Moon to complete one cycle, with around seven and a half days between its four main phases: new moon, first-quarter moon, full moon and last quarter moon.

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The moon goes through eight phases in total, starting with the new moon – which cannot be seen because the far side of the Moon is illuminated and the Earth’s side is in the shadow.

The next full moon, the Worm Moon, will be in March, followed by the Pink Moon in April.

The Moon’s elliptical orbit means it does not travel in a perfect circle, and its distance from Earth varies, so no lunar orbit is the same.

This is also why some full moons are known as supermoons, because they’re closer to Earth than others, appearing much bigger and brighter in the sky.

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