January Full Moon 2025: Wolf Moon Near Glowing Mars
The first of 12 Full Moons this year will occur on January 13. It's widely known as the Wolf Moon — read on to learn what these wild animals have to do with our natural satellite. 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
- When is the Full Moon in January 2025?
- January Full Moon in Gemini
- Bright "star" next to the Full Moon in January 2025
- What is a Wolf Moon: meaning and origin of the name
- When is the next Full Moon 2025?
- January Full Moon 2025: key points
When is the Full Moon in January 2025?
The Wolf Moon in January 2025 will be the first Full Moon this year. The exact time of the Full Wolf Moon is January 13, 22:27 GMT (5:27 p.m. ET). At this moment, the Moon will reach its peak brightness, shining with a magnitude of -12.5. It will be in the constellation Gemini. Our natural satellite is the brightest object in the night sky and is very easy to observe even without special equipment. The lunar disk will look full to the naked eye for several days, starting around January 12.
To see more details on the lunar surface, grab a pair of binoculars. A pair of binoculars with 12x magnification is the best option for the Moon viewing, but when the lunar disk is fully illuminated, any option is suitable. An easy and spectacular target for spotting is the prominent 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.
Moon phases in January 2025
- First Quarter: January 6, 23:56 GMT (6:56 p.m. ET)
- Full Moon: January 13, 22:27 GMT (5:27 p.m. ET)
- Last Quarter: January 21, 20:31 GMT (3:31 p.m. ET)
- New Moon: January 29, 12:36 GMT (7:36 a.m. ET)
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.
New Moon in January 2025 — Lunar New Year
The January New Moon is special, for it marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year. It’s the second New Moon after the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. The Lunar New Year celebrations last until the next Full Moon, which is on February 12, 2025. Learn more about the Lunar New Year in our dedicated article.
January Full Moon in Gemini
The January Full Moon can appear in either Cancer or Gemini, depending on the year. In 2025, it will occur in the constellation Gemini.
Before the Full Moon, on January 12, the Moon will be in the constellation Auriga. Then, it will move into the constellation Gemini during the night of January 12-13. At the exact moment of the Full Moon, the Moon will be in Gemini near Mars and the bright star Pollux. The night after the Full Moon, on January 14, the Moon will move into the constellation Cancer.
Bright "star" next to the Full Moon in January 2025
The Full Moon is beautiful on its own, but being aware of the bright stars and planets next to it will make your stargazing night even better.
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.
Full Moon inside the Winter Hexagon
From January 11 to 14, our natural satellite will be passing through the Winter Hexagon asterism, which is composed of six stars: Sirius from Canis Major, Procyon from Canis Minor, Rigel from Orion, Aldebaran from Taurus, Pollux from Gemini, and Capella from Auriga.
Full Moon near Pollux
On January 13, at 21:45 GMT (4:45 p.m. ET), the Full Moon will meet Pollux (mag 1.2) – the brightest star in the constellation Gemini. Both objects can be seen with the naked eye, so you will easily find the bright dot near the Moon.
Full Moon on a peak night of Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)
On January 13, Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) will reach its closest approach to both the Sun and Earth, potentially brightening to an impressive magnitude of -4 (as bright as Venus) or even -7 (visible during the day). While the Full Moon occurs the same night, it won’t interfere with comet observations since the two will be positioned far apart in the sky. The real challenge for comet hunters will be the Sun’s glare. Curious about the comet’s potential and the obstacles to spotting it? Check out our detailed article for all the insights.
Full Moon hides Mars
On January 14, from 01:44 GMT (January 13, 8:44 p.m. ET) to 05:53 GMT (00:53 a.m. ET), the Moon will obscure Mars. This meeting is extra special because Mars is approaching its best visibility until 2031! The occultation will be observable from North and South America and Africa.
Other regions will see the Moon close to Mars, which is also quite a spectacular event! The closest approach (up to 0°12') will occur at 03:48 GMT (10:48 p.m. ET). The Red Planet will shine brightly with a magnitude of -1.4, and the Moon will still appear full to the naked eye.
On January 16, Mars reaches the opposition to the Sun, when it will be fully illuminated and visible throughout the night. Mars will not be brighter until 2031! To understand the science behind this event, check out our colorful Mars opposition infographic.
Full Moon near the Beehive Cluster
On January 14, at 21:03 GMT (4:03 p.m. ET), the Moon will be near the Beehive Cluster (mag 3.1) in the constellation Cancer. Under the dark skies, the cluster is visible to the naked eye as a blurry patch of light, but it’s best to observe the event with binoculars.
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.
Curious about all the Full Moon dates and names for 2025? Dive into our vibrant infographic to explore them all!
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
When is the next Full Wolf Moon?
Soon, we’ll see the Full Wolf Moon on January 13, at 22:27 GMT (5:27 p.m. ET). After that, the next Wolf Moon will occur on January 3, 2026, at 10:03 GMT (5:03 p.m. ET).
When is the next Full Moon 2025?
The next Full Moon after the January Full Moon, widely known as the Snow Moon, will occur on February 12, 2025. If you’d like to learn more about the February Full Moon and the origin of its name, read our article.
January Full Moon 2025: key points
The first Full Moon of 2025, the Wolf Moon, rises on January 13 at 22:27 GMT (5:27 p.m. ET). Named for the howling wolves of winter, this Full Moon is a special sight. It will meet Mars, which will be nearing its brightest state until 2031, and in some regions, the Moon will briefly occult the Red Planet. Additionally, the Full Moon will share the stage with the potentially naked-eye comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS). The comet will appear on the opposite side of the sky from our natural satellite, so the Full Moon won’t spoil the view. 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!
