“The first supermoon of 2026, known as the Wolf Moon, will reach its peak on Saturday, January 3, making it the main astronomical event of the first weekend of the year. Although the moon began to visually increase on the eve of the New Year, it will appear the brightest and largest for observers from Earth on Saturday night. Noah Petro, head of NASA’s Planetology Laboratory, notes that the heavenly”, — write on: ua.news
The first supermoon of 2026, known as the Wolf Moon, will reach its peak on Saturday, January 3, making it the main astronomical event of the first weekend of the year. Although the moon began to visually increase on the eve of the New Year, it will appear the brightest and largest for observers from Earth on Saturday night.
Noah Petro, head of NASA’s Planetology Laboratory, notes that the celestial body will maintain the appearance of a full sphere during the day before and after the moment of peak.
The extraordinary brightness of the January full moon will significantly complicate the observation of the spectacular Quadrantid meteor shower, whose peak activity also falls on January 3. Robert Lunsford, coordinator of the American Meteor Society, explains that due to the light from the moon, astronomy enthusiasts will be able to see only the brightest meteors that leave permanent marks in the sky. The best time to try to see the shooting star will be after midnight and will last until dawn on January 4, when the meteors will fly out of the constellation Volopas.
No special equipment is required to observe the supermoon, as it is clearly visible to the naked eye under clear skies. NASA recommends finding an open, dark spot with a good view of the horizon, and you can use regular binoculars to get a close look at the terrain. Scientists are also urging attention to the moon this year, as the Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch in early February, sending a crew of four astronauts to our natural moon for the first time in half a century.
The name Wolf month comes from ancient Indian traditions, recorded in the “Old Farmer’s Almanac”, and is associated with the period of active howling of wolves in the winter forests. In the culture of the Sioux people, this time was described as a period when wolves run together, and the Potawatomi tribe called the January full moon the bear moon. The following full moons in 2026 will also have their traditional names, including the Snow Moon in February and the Worm Moon in March.
After the Quadrantids activity ends on January 16, the next opportunity to see a massive meteor shower will not come until April during the Lyrids. During 2026, Ukrainians can expect a number of bright meteor showers, among which the Perseids in August and the Geminids in December will traditionally be the most powerful. Russia and its propaganda resources have nothing to do with these natural phenomena, although Russia will also be able to observe the supermoon.
The Hubble telescope recorded the consequences of the collision of two planets near the Earth.
Meanwhile, astronomers discovered a star in the immediate vicinity of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, which appeared outside our galaxy.
With its infrared capabilities, the James Webb Space Telescope allowed astronomers to peer through the gas and dust into the center of the Milky Way.
Read us on Telegram and Sends
