The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is precisely sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures the entire side of the Moon that faces us gleams under sunlight. Thanks to the Moon’s orbit around Earth, the angle of sunlight hitting the lunar surface and being reflected back to our planet changes. That creates different lunar phases.
The next Full Moon will be the Worm Moon, which occurs at 6:38 a.m. EST on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. It will also bring a total lunar eclipse.
We’ll update this article multiple times each week with the latest moonrise, moonset, Full Moon schedule, and some of what you can see in the sky each week.
Here’s the complete list of Full Moons this year and their traditional names.
2026 Full Moon schedule and names of each
(All times Eastern; * denotes a Super Moon.)
- Saturday, Jan. 3 — 5:03 a.m. — Wolf Moon*
- Sunday, Feb. 1 — 5:09 p.m. — Snow Moon
- Tuesday, March 3 — 6:38 a.m. — Worm Moon | Total lunar eclipse
- Wednesday, April 1 — 10:12 p.m. — Pink Moon
- Friday, May 1 — 1:23 p.m. — Flower Moon
- Sunday, May 31 — 4:45 a.m. — Blue Moon
- Monday, June 29 — 7:57 p.m. — Strawberry Moon
- Wednesday, July 29 — 10:36 a.m. — Buck Moon
- Friday, Aug. 28 — 12:19 a.m. — Sturgeon Moon | Partial lunar eclipse
- Saturday, Sept. 26 — 12:49 p.m. — Corn Moon
- Monday, Oct. 26 — 12:12 a.m. — Hunter’s Moon
- Tuesday, Nov. 24— 9:54 a.m. — Beaver Moon*
- Wednesday , Dec. 23 — 8:28 p.m. — Cold Moon*
The phases of the Moon in February 2026
The images below show the day-by-day phases of the Moon in February. The Full Moon this month was on Sunday, Feb. 1.
The moonrise and moonset schedule this week
The times below for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 10 P.M. local time from the same location. All other times are Eastern unless otherwise specified. For more details on upcoming sky events, check out our full Sky This Week column.
Thursday, February 19
The Moon passes 4° north of Neptune and 5° north of Saturn at 7 P.M. EST, as the two distant planets are still less than a degree apart in Pisces. Once the sky grows darker, 1st-magnitude Saturn should pop out against the background sky to the lower left of the Moon. It’s the brightest point of light in this region, and the third-brightest light in the sky, after Venus and Mercury. Neptune, at magnitude 7.8, is not visible to the naked eye. Once full darkness falls, however, you can find the distant ice giant by centering binoculars or a telescope on Saturn, then glancing to the north. The planets are currently just 0.8° apart.
Sunrise: 6:47 A.M.
Sunset: 5:41 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:47 A.M.
Moonset: 8:22 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (8%)
Friday, February 20
Sunrise: 6:46 A.M.
Sunset: 5:42 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:10 A.M.
Moonset: 9:33 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (15%)
Saturday, February 21
Sunrise: 6:45 A.M.
Sunset: 5:43 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:35 A.M.
Moonset: 10:46 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (24%)
Sunday, February 22
A lovely crescent Moon is visible nearly all evening, setting around local midnight. If you’ve got a telescope, tonight is a great opportunity to view a famous trio of craters just south of the lunar equator and a bit west of Mare Nectaris, whose round, dark floor lies near the terminator separating lunar night from day.
Look first for the sharp-walled, round crater Theophilus, whose clear central peak should give it away. This is the youngest of our trio, as evidenced by those sharp walls, which stand in stark comparison to the slumped rim of Cyrillus, immediately to Theophilus’ southwest. In fact, Theophilus clearly overlaps Cyrillus, another testament to the fact that the latter came first.
Cyrillus, too, has a central peak; compare it to the one within Theophilus. Then, finally, move south of Cyrillus to Catharina, the oldest crater of the three. Although it once had a central peak like the others, it has been worn away by impacts over time. Catharina’s walls, too, have suffered the same fate, appearing softer and more slumped than those of its companions.
Sunrise: 6:43 A.M.
Sunset: 5:44 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:05 A.M.
Moonset: —
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (35%)
Monday, February 23
The Moon passes 6° north of Uranus at 8 P.M. EST; around the same time, our satellite grazes the stars of the Pleiades, passing just north of the main cluster. For about four hours, from 9 P.M. to 1 A.M. EST (moonset along the East Coast), the Moon is quite close to the Pleiades’ stars, occulting some of the fainter members in the group’s northern reaches during this timeframe. If you focus on the Moon’s leading (dark) edge with binoculars or a telescope and watch closely, you may be able to see some of the cluster’s stars wink out as they are covered by our satellite. Their reappearance at the brighter, illuminated trailing limb will be much harder to catch.
Which stars disappear and the time of their disappearance depends heavily on your location — for example, 6th-magnitude 18 Tauri will disappear around 9:15 P.M. CST from Springfield, Illinois. The International Occultation Timing Association has more details on this and other upcoming occultations, or you can chart the event from your specific location using your favorite planetarium program.
Sunrise: 6:42 A.M.
Sunset: 5:46 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:40 A.M.
Moonset: 12:01 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (46%)
Tuesday, February 24
First Quarter Moon occurs at 7:28 A.M. EST. The Moon then reaches perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit, at 6:14 P.M. EST. At that time, our satellite will be 229,991 miles (370,135 kilometers) away.
The Moon is still in Taurus, following its brush with the Pleiades yesterday. The region is setting after dark, slowly sinking toward the western horizon.
Sunrise: 6:40 A.M.
Sunset: 5:47 P.M.
Moonrise: 10:24 A.M.
Moonset: 1:17 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (58%)
Wednesday, February 25
Sunrise: 6:39 A.M.
Sunset: 5:48 P.M.
Moonrise: 11:19 A.M.
Moonset: 2:29 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (69%)
Thursday, February 26
Sunrise: 6:37 A.M.
Sunset: 5:49 P.M.
Moonrise: 12:24 P.M.
Moonset: 3:33 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (79%)
Friday, February 27
The Moon passes 4° north of Jupiter at 1 A.M. EST. Both are located in Gemini, now sinking slowly in the west. At 1 A.M. local time, the region is still 30° high, with the 80-percent-lit Moon standing to the upper right of Jupiter. Both hang below the two brightest stars in Gemini, Castor and Pollux, which mark the Twins’ heads.
Sunrise: 6:36 A.M.
Sunset: 5:50 P.M.
Moonrise: 1:37 P.M.
Moonset: 4:25 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (87%)
The phases of the Moon
The phases of the Moon are: New Moon, waxing crescent, First Quarter, waxing gibbous, Full Moon, waning gibbous, Last Quarter, and waning crescent. A cycle starting from one Full Moon to its next counterpart, termed the synodic month or lunar month, lasts about 29.5 days.
Though a Full Moon only occurs during the exact moment when Earth, Moon, and Sun form a perfect alignment, to our eyes, the Moon seems Full for around three days.
RELATED: 20 things to see on the Moon
Different names for different types of Full Moon
There are a wide variety of specialized names used to identify distinct types or timings of Full Moons. These names primarily trace back to a blend of cultural, agricultural, and natural observations about the Moon, aimed at allowing humans to not only predict seasonal changes, but also track the passage of time.
For instance, almost every month’s Full Moon boasts a name sourced from Native American, Colonial American, or other North American traditions, with their titles mirroring seasonal shifts and nature’s events.
Wolf Moon (January): Inspired by the cries of hungry wolves.
Snow Moon (February): A nod to the month’s often heavy snowfall.
Worm Moon (March): Named after the earthworms that signal thawing grounds.
Pink Moon (April): In honor of the blossoming pink wildflowers.
Flower Moon (May): Celebrating the bloom of flowers.
Strawberry Moon (June): Marks the prime strawberry harvest season.
Buck Moon (July): Recognizing the new antlers on bucks.
Sturgeon Moon (August): Named after the abundant sturgeon fish.
Corn Moon (September): Signifying the corn harvesting period.
Hunter’s Moon (October): Commemorating the hunting season preceding winter.
Beaver Moon (November): Reflects the time when beavers are busy building their winter dams.
Cold Moon (December): Evocative of winter’s chill.
In addition, there are a few additional names for Full Moons that commonly make their way into public conversations and news.
Super Moon: This term is reserved for a Full Moon that aligns with the lunar perigee, which is the Moon’s nearest point to Earth in its orbit. This proximity renders the Full Moon unusually large and luminous. For a Full Moon to earn the Super Moon tag, it should be within approximately 90 percent of its closest distance to Earth.
Blue Moon: A Blue Moon is the second Full Moon in a month that experiences two Full Moons. This phenomenon graces our skies roughly every 2.7 years. Though the term suggests a color, Blue Moons aren’t truly blue. Very occasionally, atmospheric conditions such as recent volcanic eruptions might lend the Moon a slightly blueish tint, but this hue isn’t tied to the term.
Black Moon: A Black Moon is a recent, unofficial term that can describe one of two situations. Either the third of four New Moons in a single astronomical season or the second of two New Moons in a month is a Black Moon. As its name suggests, the Black Moon is completely dark, as it is a New Moon that occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth. The New Moon cannot be observed except during a total solar eclipse.
Harvest Moon: Occurring closest to the autumnal equinox, typically in September, the Harvest Moon is often renowned for a distinct orange tint it might display. This Full Moon rises close to sunset and sets near sunrise, providing extended hours of bright moonlight. Historically, this was invaluable to farmers gathering their produce.
Common questions about Full Moons
What is the difference between a Full Moon and a New Moon? A Full Moon is witnessed when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, making the entire Moon’s face visible. Conversely, during a New Moon, the Moon lies between Earth and the Sun, shrouding its Earth-facing side in darkness.
How does the Full Moon influence tides? The Moon’s gravitational tug causes Earth’s waters to bulge, birthing tides. During both Full and New Moons, the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in alignment, generating “spring tides.” These tides can swing exceptionally high or low due to the combined gravitational influences of the Sun and Moon.
Here are the dates for all the lunar phases in 2026:
| New | First Quarter | Full | Last Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 3 | Jan. 10 | ||
| Jan. 18 | Jan. 25 | Feb. 1 | Feb. 9 |
| Feb. 17 | Feb. 24 | March 3 | March 11 |
| March 18 | March 25 | April 1 | April 10 |
| April 17 | April 23 | May 1 | May 9 |
| May 16 | May 23 | May 31 | June 8 |
| June 14 | June 21 | June 29 | July 7 |
| July 14 | July 21 | July 29 | Aug. 5 |
| Aug. 12 | Aug. 19 | Aug. 28 | Sept. 4 |
| Sept. 10 | Sept. 18 | Sept. 26 | Oct. 3 |
| Oct. 10 | Oct. 18 | Oct. 26 | Nov. 1 |
| Nov. 9 | Nov. 17 | Nov. 24 | Dec. 1 |
| Dec. 8 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 23 | Dec. 30 |
