The year 2026 began with the Full Wolf Moon, which reached its peak illumination on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 5:03 A.M. EST (10:02 UTC). This celestial event marked the first full moon of the new year. Adding to its visual appeal, many astronomical sources, including The Old Farmer's Almanac and Space.com, classified it as a 'Supermoon.' A Supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the Moon being near its perigee—its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit—making it appear noticeably larger and brighter than an average full moon. However, it's worth noting that some definitions, such as that used by Time and Date, have stricter criteria and might not categorize this event as a Supermoon. The name 'Wolf Moon' is a traditional moniker for January's full moon, originating from various Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. This name is thought to have come from the observation that wolves were more frequently heard howling during the cold, deep winter months. However, modern understanding indicates that wolf howling is not directly tied to the lunar phase. This global astronomical spectacle was visible worldwide, with optimal viewing generally occurring as the moon rose from the eastern horizon around sunset on both January 2nd and 3rd. Skywatchers and photography enthusiasts had the opportunity to observe the lunar disk appearing full for several nights around its peak illumination.