The first full moon of 2025 will rise in the sky tonight, and this time it will have a companion.
Mars will appear as a reddish dot alongside the Wolf Moon – which is what we call the full moon in January – in a special motivation for anyone who got a telescope for Christmas.
It will be visible with the naked eye too looking east from the UK, although some cloud cover may restrict the view.
Those in the US and West Africa will get an even more unusual sight, as Mars will be briefly eclipsed by the Moon in what is known as an ‘occultation’.
We will not be at the correct alignment to witness this, but we will still be looking from the right angle to see the two celestial bodies together, which has to be worth at least a peak out the window.
The Moon should visible througout the evening, with moonrise in the mid afternoon before it becomes more obvious as the sun goes down.
Mars will draw closer and closer as the evening goes on and they climb higher in the sky until around midnight.
What is a Wolf Moon?
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Wolf Moon is thought to have gained its name from Native Americans, who would hear wolves howling around this time after growing hungry during the long winter season.
No wolves this year (not in the UK anyway), but the haunting name remains. This full moon is also known as Stay Home Moon, Quiet Moon and Severe Moon, which really accentuate the cold and bitter weather as the Moon provides the only source of limited natural light for well over 12 hours.
How to see the Wolf Moon
The Moon will rise around 3.21pm, and weather dependent may be visible during daylight hours.
It will rise around 44 degrees northeast, but if it’s a clear sky, you won’t need those specifics – it will be pretty easy to see once the sun sets around 4.30pm.
However, with visual aids such as binoculars or a telescope, you can see the lunar landscape in magnificent detail which is always the perfect way to begin stargazing.
This is the first full moon of 2025, 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 Wolf 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
What does the Wolf Moon mean for your horoscope?
Tonight’s full moon is rising in the sign of Cancer, in the zodiac month of Capricorn.
According to our horoscope writer Kerry King, Cancer is ‘the sign ruled over by the moon’ so brings ‘a double whammy of lunar energy’.
She said: ‘There is no hiding from the emotionally illuminating beam of this Full Moon. Expect it to expose and reveal your inner thoughts and feelings, to shine a light on darkness, and to make you feel sensitive and intuitive.’
Read her full predictions here.
When is the next full moon in 2025?
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.
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 will be on February 12.
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.
The next full moon is aptly named the Snow Moon, appearing in February, followed by the Worm Moon in March and the Pink Moon in April.
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