January Full Moon 2027: Wolf Supermoon
The Wolf Moon will occur on January 22, 2027, at 12:17 GMT. It will also be the first of two Supermoons in the year 2027. To find out when the Moon rises and sets in your city, and what celestial objects it passes by, use the free Sky Tonight app. Now let's prepare to watch the January Full Moon.
Contents
- January 2027 Moon Dates & Time
- January 2027 Supermoon
- What zodiac sign is the January Full Moon in?
- Bright “stars” next to the Full Moon in January 2027
- What Is a Wolf Moon: Meaning and Origin of the Name
- January Full Moon 2027: F.A.Q.
- January Full Moon 2027: Key Points
January 2027 Moon Dates & Time
Moon Phases in January 2027
- New Moon: January 7, 20:24 GMT
- First Quarter: January 15, 20:34 GMT
- Full Moon: January 22, 12:17 GMT
- Last Quarter: January 29, 10:55 GMT
To learn what the Moon looks like tonight, visit the new Moon Phases section on our website. There, you can check out the monthly lunar calendar and find out the Moon phase for any specific day, as well as the moonrise and moonset times.
When is the Full Moon in January 2027?
The Wolf Moon in January 2027 will be the first Full Moon this year. The exact time of the Full Wolf Moon is January 22, 12:17 GMT. At this moment, the Moon will reach its peak brightness, shining with a magnitude of -13.1. It will be in the constellation Cancer. Our natural satellite is the brightest object in the night sky and is easily observable even without special equipment. The lunar disk will look full to the naked eye for several days, starting around January 20.
To see more details on the lunar surface, grab a pair of binoculars. A pair of binoculars with 7-10x magnification is the best option for viewing the Moon, but when the lunar disk is fully illuminated, any magnification level is suitable. A prominent and spectacular target for spotting is the crater Tycho. To quickly locate it on the lunar surface, use our Star Walk 2 app — find the Moon there and choose the “Atlas” tab.
When Is the New Moon in January 2027?
The New Moon will occur on January 7 at 20:24 GMT. On this day, the Moon will be completely invisible, and it will also be challenging to see it on the days before and after. This is a great opportunity to observe deep-sky objects, like the Beehive star cluster in the Northern Hemisphere or the Omicron Velorum Cluster in the Southern Hemisphere.
January 2027 Supermoon
The Full Moon on January 22, 2027, is considered a Supermoon – it appears 7% bigger and 15% brighter than an average Full Moon.
A Supermoon happens when a Full Moon occurs near perigee, the Moon’s closest point to Earth in its orbit. The Moon doesn’t really change its size; it just gets closer to Earth. The January Supermoon, for example, will be 357,644 km from Earth – for comparison, the smallest Full Moon of 2027 (July 18 Micromoon) will be 405,979 km from Earth. The diameter of the January Full Moon will be 33.4 arcminutes (relatively big compared to the diameter of 29.4 arc-minutes of the July 18 Micromoon). Take a look at our infographic on Supermoons and Micromoons to get a better understanding of the differences in their visual appearance.
What zodiac sign is the January Full Moon in?
According to astrologers, the January Full Moon is always in the zodiac sign of Cancer.
From the astronomical point of view, the January Full Moon can appear in either Cancer or Gemini, depending on the year. In 2027, the January Full Moon will be located in the zodiac constellation Cancer, as well.
Curious why there is sometimes an inconsistency between zodiac signs and constellations? Check out our zodiac infographic to better understand the difference.
Bright “stars” next to the Full Moon in January 2027
The January Full Moon will share the sky with planets Jupiter and Mars, as well as with bright stars Regulus and Pollux. The objects will be relatively far from each other but will still form a beautiful curved line in the night sky.
To identify bright sky objects near the Moon, use the sky map app — Sky Tonight. Launch the app and point it up into the sky. Sky Tonight will show you the names of all stars, planets, galaxies, and other celestial bodies. Tap a big blue button in the lower part of your screen to turn on the AR mode.
What Is a Wolf Moon: Meaning and Origin of the Name
People from different cultures gave Full Moons names that represented the peculiarities of the lunar month in which they occur. Throughout cold January nights, the howling of wolves could be heard around villages in both Europe and America, so the January Full Moon became widely known as the Wolf Moon.
People used to believe that wolves howl because of winter hunger, but today we know that wolves generally use vocalizations to communicate, reinforce social bonds, and coordinate hunting.
Wolf Moon: Spiritual Meaning
The Wolf Moon, the first Full Moon of the year, is rich in symbolic meaning across many cultures. Traditionally, it’s thought to represent themes of protection and community — like the howl of the wolf, underscoring our ties to our "pack." Many people use this Moon as an opportunity for emotional reflection, reconnecting with their intuition, and honoring the relationships that matter most. It's also seen as a moment for setting intentions and recognizing inner strength. Naturally, these interpretations are not based on astronomy — they are part of folklore and magical thinking, and are simply an additional fun way to view the night sky.
January Full Moon Alternative Names
Full Moons are called differently in other cultures. Some people didn’t put wolves at the forefront and highlighted the other peculiarities of the month. Depending on the region, you can hear such names as the Bear Moon, Bear Hunting Moon, and Goose Moon. One of the Celtic names for the January Full Moon is the Stay Home Moon, which sounds like sensible advice when it's cold winter outside, and wolves are howling. In the Anglo-Saxon tradition, it can be referred to as Moon After Yule, the name given to the first Full Moon after the winter solstice.
Here are some more examples:
- Chinese: Holiday Moon
- Celtic: Quiet Moon
- North American: Old Moon
- Cherokee: Cold Moon
- Southern Hemisphere: Hay Moon, Buck Moon, Thunder Moon, Mead Moon
To learn more folklore names for every Full Moon in a year, take a look at our Full Moon calendar.
January Full Moon 2027: F.A.Q.
When is the next Full Moon 2027?
The next Full Moon after the Full Moon on January 22 will be the Full Snow Moon on February 20, at 23:24 GMT. Check the Moon phases for every day with our online lunar calendar
When is the next Full Wolf Moon?
In 2027, we’ll see the Full Wolf Moon on January 22, at 12:17 GMT. After that, the next Wolf Moon will occur on January 12, 2028, at 04:03 GMT.
When is the next Supermoon 2027?
The Full Moon on January 22, 2027, will be the first Supermoon of the year. The second and last Supermoon of the year will take place on February 20, 2027. Check out our article on Supermoons to find out if they are really worth the hype.
What is that star near the Moon tonight?
In January 2027, the Full Moon will shine close to Pollux, the brightest star in the constellation Gemini. On the nights following the Full Moon, the Moon will appear near Jupiter, Mars, and Regulus in Leo.
As the Moon moves across the sky, it passes by different stars and planets. Read our article on Moon-planet conjunctions to find out when the next one takes place.
January Full Moon 2027: Key Points
The first Full Moon of 2027, the Wolf Moon, will appear on January 22 at 12:17 GMT. Named for the howling wolves of winter, this Full Moon is a special sight. This is the first Supermoon of 2027, appearing bigger and brighter than usual.
Enjoy the first Full Moon of the year and its celestial companions. For more events, check out our full January astronomy guide.
Clear skies and happy stargazing!
