Supermoon today: 2026’s ‘Wolf Moon’ to illuminate night sky, best viewed after sunset in India

The first supermoon of 2026 will be visible in the night sky on Saturday, offering skywatchers across Odisha and the rest of India a prominent and visually striking lunar display. The celestial event, which coincides with the full moon, will see the Moon appear significantly larger and brighter than usual due to its close proximity to Earth.

Astronomical data indicate that the supermoon will be at a distance of around 3,62,641 kilometres from Earth, placing it near the closest point in its elliptical orbit, known as perigee. At this distance, the Moon is expected to appear about 14 percent larger and nearly 30 percent brighter than an average full moon.

Best Viewing Time In India

Globally, the supermoon will reach its peak phase at different local times. In India, skywatchers will get the clearest view after sunset on January 3, with moonrise expected between 5:45 pm and 6 pm IST, depending on location. From this point onward, the Moon will remain visible throughout the night, weather permitting.

The peak full-moon phase will occur around 4 pm IST, but the visual impact is most noticeable after moonrise, when the Moon appears low on the horizon.

Why The Moon Looks Bigger And Orange

As the supermoon rises, observers may notice an orange or yellow tint, especially near the horizon. This colour shift is caused by the Earth’s atmosphere scattering shorter wavelengths of light.

At the same time, the Moon may appear unusually large due to a visual phenomenon known as the “moon illusion”, where objects near the horizon seem bigger when compared to surrounding landmarks such as buildings or trees.

Visibility Across The World

The supermoon will be visible at different times across various regions. While observers in India will see it shortly after sunset, it will be visible in the early morning hours in parts of North America and later in the day in regions such as Europe, East Asia, and Australia, aligned with local moonrise and full-moon timing.

January’s full moon is traditionally referred to as the Wolf Moon, a name rooted in Northern Hemisphere folklore associated with wolves howling during long winter nights. It is also sometimes called the “Moon after Yule.” When a January full moon coincides with perigee, it is classified as a Wolf Supermoon.

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More Supermoons And Micromoons This Year

Astronomical schedules indicate that two more supermoons will occur later in the year, on November 24 and December 23.

In contrast, micromoons, when the Moon appears smaller due to being farther from Earth, are expected on May 1, May 31, and June 29.

It is worth noting that a supermoon is a natural and routine astronomical event with no physical impact on Earth or human activity. The phenomenon can be safely observed with the naked eye, though binoculars or a telescope may help reveal surface details such as craters and lunar plains.