Full Moon in February 2025: Snow Moon
The second Full Moon of 2025, the Snow Moon, will occur on Wednesday, February 12. The Moon will be in the constellation Leo, near its brightest star Regulus; find other stars in Leo using the Sky Tonight app. Now for the details!
Contents
- When is the Full Moon in February 2025?
- What is a Snow Moon?
- Moon phases in February 2025
- Visible stars near the February Full Moon
- When is the next Full Moon?
- Snow Moon 2025: Key takeaways
When is the Full Moon in February 2025?
This month, the Moon will reach its full phase on Wednesday, February 12, 13:53 GMT (8:53 a.m. ET). Our natural satellite will be positioned in the constellation Leo. Remember that you don’t really need to know the exact time of this event to enjoy it, as the Moon will appear full on the nights around February 12. See exactly how the illumination of the lunar disc changes from day to day in the Sky Tonight app, using the Moon tab in the calendar.
February Full Moon in Leo
In general, the Full Moon in February can be in one of three constellations: the zodiacal constellations Leo and Cancer, and the non-zodiacal small constellation Sextans, which is right next to Leo.
In most years, such as 2025, the Full Moon in February is in the constellation Leo. The next time it will be in Cancer is in 2026; in Sextans — in 2029.
Sometimes, there isn't a Full Moon in February at all. This happens once every 19 years: the last time was in 2018, and the next time will be in 2037. Sometimes people call it a "Black Moon", but it isn’t the only meaning this term has. Learn what it really means in our dedicated article.
What time does the Full Moon rise?
The moonrise time varies for different locations. To learn the exact time for the place you’re currently in, use Sky Tonight. Open the app, tap the Magnifier icon, type “Moon” in the search field, and tap the corresponding search result. On the Figures tab, you’ll find info on the Moon’s current phase, visual magnitude, and illumination. On the Events tab, you can see the list of upcoming astronomical events related to the Moon, including the rise and set times.
What is a Snow Moon?
Traditionally, the February Full Moon is called the Snow Moon in North America and Europe. Unlike some other Full Moon names (like the Worm Moon or the Pink Moon), this name speaks for itself and doesn’t require much explanation. February is the month of heaviest snowfalls in North America, so Native American tribes referred to it as the Snow Moon. Some tribes also called it the Hunger Moon because it was difficult to hunt under harsh weather conditions.
February Full Moon alternative names
Different cultures gave the February Full Moon different names. Here are some of them:
- Chinese: Budding Moon
- Celtic: Ice Moon
- Cree: Eagle Moon
- Cherokee: Bony Moon
- Southern Hemisphere: Grain Moon, Barley Moon, Red Moon, Dog Moon
Moon phases in February 2025
- First Quarter Moon: February 5, 08:02 GMT (3:02 a.m. ET)
- Full Moon: February 12, 13:53 GMT (8:53 a.m. ET)
- Last Quarter Moon: February 20, 17:33 GMT (12:33 p.m. ET)
- New Moon: February 28, 00:45 GMT (February 27, 7:45 p.m. ET)
You can learn the Moon’s phases for any month from the Moon Phases Calendar on our website. You can also find a similar calendar in the Sky Tonight app.
February New Moon
On Friday, February 28, at 00:45 GMT (February 27, 7:45 p.m. ET), the New Moon takes place. The Moon, located in the constellation Aquarius, rises and sets with the Sun.
During this event, the Moon is located between the Earth and the Sun and appears as a darkened disc in the sky, invisible to the naked eye. The time around a New Moon is perfect for night sky observations — especially for viewing faint objects such as galaxies or star clusters, as the bright moonlight doesn't interfere.
The only time a New Moon is easily visible in the sky is during a solar eclipse. This occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, blocking the Sun's light from the observer's point of view. The next such event will take place on March 29, 2025, when a partial solar eclipse will occur. Don't miss out on this rare astronomical event!
Visible stars near the February Full Moon
According to the Sky Tonight sky map, the Moon will meet several celestial objects near its full phase:
- On February 9, at 19:36 GMT (2:36 p.m. ET), the Moon will pass Mars (mag -0.7) at a distance of 0°48′. Bright Castor and Pollux of the constellation Gemini will also shine nearby;
- On February 10, at 05:19 GMT (12:19 p.m. ET), the Moon will approach the star Pollux (mag 1.2), shining at a distance of 2°12′ from it;
- On February 11, at 05:03 GMT (12:03 p.m. ET), the Moon will pass 2°42′ away from the Beehive star cluster (mag 3.1). Under the dark skies, the Beehive cluster might be visible to the naked eye, but the bright Moon will likely outshine it.
- On February 12, at 23:21 GMT 6:21 p.m. ET), the Full Moon will pass 2°18′ away from Regulus (mag 1.4), the brightest star in the constellation Leo. Regulus is bright enough to be visible even at Full Moon, provided the sky is free of light pollution.
Sky Tonight can also help you identify any bright object near the Moon. Open the app and tap the compass icon in the lower right corner of the main screen. Then point your device at the Moon, and the app will reveal the names of stars, planets, and other objects surrounding it.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon after the Full Snow Moon of 2025 will occur on March 14, 2025, at 06:55 GMT (1:55 a.m. ET). It is traditionally referred to as the Worm Moon. If you’d like to learn more about the March Full Moon and the origin of its name, read our article. Find out what bright stars will be visible near the March Full Moon using the Sky Tonight app.
When is the next Snow Moon?
The Snow Moon is a traditional name for the February Full Moon, so the next Full Snow Moon after February 12, 2025, will occur on February 1, 2026, at 22:09 GMT (5:09 p.m. ET).
Snow Moon 2025: Key takeaways
In February 2025, the Full Moon will occur on February 12, at 13:53 GMT (8:53 a.m. ET). It is traditionally called the Snow Moon. You can see what the Moon looks like from your location for any day using the Moon tab of the Sky Tonight app’s calendar.
