Sky-watchers post spectacular pictures of the first Wolf Moon of 2026 from Britain and around the world

Skywatchers have released spectacular photos of the first Wolf Moon of 2026.

The Supermoon will dramatically brighten the UK sky throughout today.

It will be at its fullest at 10 a.m., but will be at its most impressive in the evening when it is closest to the horizon at moonrise.

For Brits hoping to catch a glimpse of the Wolf Moon, it will be visible across the UK with clear skies forecast.

A beautiful view of the supermoon in North Yorkshire showed it rising over a farmhouse in the village of Stokesley.

A plane traveling from Richmond Park to Heathrow was seen carrying the Wolf supermoon on the back.

And in Ely, Cambridgeshire, the supermoon was seen rising over the city’s cathedral.

Last night, London Eye watchers gathered to photograph the capital’s full moon.

A Heathrow-bound plane was seen flying from Richmond Park carrying the Wolf supermoon behind it

Supermoon seen rising above the city’s cathedral in Ely, Cambridgeshire

Last night, LondonEye viewers gathered to photograph the capital’s full moon

Footage shows it passing behind Stonehenge in Wiltshire, south-west England, on Saturday morning.

Others catch it looming over the Thames Estuary in Glasgow, Scotland, and Minster, Kent, in southeastern England.

Around the world, breathtaking photos of the moon have already been taken by avid skywatchers.

The supermoon was seen rising over the city’s skyline in Baltimore, USA.

Meanwhile, it was captured in Cocoyoc, Mexico, next to the Popocatepetl volcano, which lit up the sky in last night’s hazy heat.

An exclusive surreal photo shows the moon behind the crescent-shaped moon of the mosque’s minaret in Srinagar, in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

The term ‘Wolf Moon’ for the full moon in January is believed to come from Medieval Europe because it was believed to be a time of year when wolves howled more due to a lack of available food.

Astronomer Jess Lee, of the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said on Friday: ‘Each full moon throughout the year has its own unique nickname.

Wolf Moon captured near Popocatepetl volcano in Cocoyoc, Mexico, illuminating the sky in last night’s hazy heat

A man walks his dog on a cold morning in the hills of Ditchling Beacon in East Sussex, with the moon in the background.

Picturesque scenes from Richmond Park as the Super Moon rises over Royal Park

‘The January full moon is often called the Wolf Moon; This name was inspired by the wolves that were thought to roam around during the long winter nights.’

He added: ‘You don’t need any special equipment or relief from light pollution to enjoy the view, it’s a beautiful sight both in cities and in the countryside.’

These different names were useful in the old days to mark the change of names, as the names tended to relate to the time of year – such as the Flower Moon in May and the Corn Moon in September.

This is the fourth supermoon in a row, following October’s Harvest Moon, November’s Beaver Moon, and December’s Cold Moon.

But for those unlucky enough to miss today’s Wolf Moon, there won’t be another supermoon until November.

However, there will be two extra full moons in May, making 2026 a rare year with 13 full moons instead of 12. The phrase ‘once in a blue moon’ comes from this event.

A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the Moon’s closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit, known as perigee.

During tomorrow’s perigee, the moon will be 225,130 miles (362,312 km) from Earth and 20,000 miles (32,000 km) closer at its farthest point.

A surreal photo shows the moon behind the crescent-shaped moon of a mosque minaret in Srinagar, in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir

The supermoon was seen rising over the city in Baltimore, USA

The term ‘Wolf Moon’ for the January full moon is believed to originate from Medieval Europe because it was believed to be a time of year when wolves howled more due to a lack of available food.

This will make the moon appear 14 percent larger and up to 30 percent brighter as it rises tomorrow evening.

In another rare winter treat, British moongazers can look forward to largely clear skies this evening.

The Met Office is forecasting only partly cloudy conditions across much of England and Wales, with light cloud cover across Scotland and the north-east of England.

However, be aware that yellow and amber snow and ice warnings are in place in parts of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

If you’re heading out to see the Supermoon, be sure to check your local forecast and dress appropriately with warm clothing.

Today’s full moon is rare because not every full moon is a supermoon, and there may only be three or four supermoons in a typical year.

The exact timing of moonrise will vary slightly depending on your latitude, but the moon will be visible from 3.15pm in the UK.