Full Moon February 2026: Snow Moon 2026

The February Full Moon is traditionally known as the Snow Moon, a name linked to the heavy snowfall that commonly occurs across parts of North America during February. In 2026, the Snow Moon reaches peak illumination on February 1 at 22:09 UTC. It is also a micromoon, occurring relatively far from Earth in its elliptical orbit.

For upcoming Full Moon dates, see the Full Moon Calendar.

When is the Snow Moon 2026?

The Snow Moon reaches full phase on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 22:09 UTC.

In India, the Full Moon reaches peak illumination at approximately 3:39 AM IST on February 2.

Because the exact peak occurs during the early morning in India, the Moon will appear nearly full on the evening of February 1 and the following night.

You can check the Moon’s exact details for February 1, including illumination, Moon age, distance from Earth, azimuth, and other lunar data, on Moon Age Today.

Why Is It Called the Snow Moon?

The name “Snow Moon” refers to the heavy snowfall traditionally associated with February.

The name became widely known through North American Full Moon naming traditions and was popularized by modern astronomical calendars. February is often one of the snowiest months across parts of the United States and Canada, making snowfall a natural seasonal marker.

The name does not mean that the Moon itself becomes white or produces snow. It describes the seasonal conditions surrounding the full moon.

How to watch the Snow Moon

The Snow Moon is easy to observe with the naked eye.

• Find a location with a clear view toward the eastern horizon.
• Look shortly after sunset as the Moon rises.
• Choose a location away from tall buildings and trees.
• Binoculars can reveal craters and other lunar features.
• A telescope provides more detail along the lunar surface.
• For photography, use snow-covered landscapes, trees, or buildings as foreground subjects where available.

For exact local moonrise and moonset times, use the Moonrise & Moonset Time Calculator.

Why is the February full moon a micromoon?

The 2026 Snow Moon is a micromoon because it occurs relatively close to the Moon’s apogee, the point in its elliptical orbit when it is farthest from Earth.

The Moon’s orbit is not a perfect circle. Its distance from Earth changes throughout each month, causing small changes in its apparent size.

A micromoon appears slightly smaller and dimmer than a full moon occurring near perigee. The difference is subtle and is difficult to notice without comparing photographs taken under similar conditions.

Is the Snow Moon a supermoon?

No. The February 2026 Snow Moon is not a supermoon.

Instead, it occurs near the opposite end of the Moon’s distance range, making it a micro moon.

A supermoon occurs when a full moon happens close to perigee, while a micromoon occurs when a full moon takes place relatively close to apogee.

Other Traditional Names of the February Full Moon

The February Full Moon has several traditional names connected with winter conditions and seasonal activities.

• Hunger Moon: Associated with the difficulty of finding food during the harshest part of winter.
• Storm Moon: Refers to frequent winter storms.
• Ice Moon: Connected with freezing temperatures and icy conditions.
• Candles Moon: A traditional European name associated with Candlemas.
• Trappers Moon: Linked to winter trapping activities.
• Bone Moon: Associated with scarce food supplies during winter.

These names come from different cultural and regional traditions and were not used universally.

Lunar Eclipse

There is no lunar eclipse during the February 2026 Snow Moon.

You can track upcoming lunar eclipses with the Lunar Eclipse Calendar.

Moon Phases for February 2026

The Full Moon occurs on February 1 at approximately 22:09 UTC, the Last Quarter on February 9 at approximately 12:43 UTC, the New Moon on February 17 at approximately 12:01 UTC, and the First Quarter on February 24 at approximately 12:28 UTC.

To follow the moon’s daily phases throughout February, use the Moon Phase Calendar.

Other Must-Watch Sky events in February 2026

• Snow Moon, February 1: The Full Moon reaches peak illumination at 22:09 UTC and becomes February’s Snow Moon.
• Moon and Spica, February 3: The waning gibbous Moon passes close to Spica, the brightest star in Virgo.
• Moon and Antares, February 7: The Moon passes close to Antares, the bright red star in Scorpius, in the morning sky.
• New Moon, February 17: The dark lunar sky provides favorable conditions for observing faint stars and deep-sky objects.
• Moon and Venus, February 19: A thin crescent Moon appears close to bright Venus after sunset.
• Moon and Saturn, February 20: The young crescent Moon passes near Saturn in the evening sky.
• Moon and Jupiter, February 24: The First Quarter Moon passes close to Jupiter, producing a bright pairing in the evening sky.
• Moon and Pleiades, February 25: The Moon passes near the Pleiades star cluster, also known as M45.

Sources

1. NASA SkyCal: 2026 Sky Events
2. Time and date: Snow Moon 2026
3. NASA: February 2026 Skywatching
4. The Old Farmer’s Almanac: February Full Moon

Note: All dates and times in this article are given in UTC unless otherwise stated. Local moonrise, moonset, and visibility vary by location.