Tonight marks the first full moon of 2026, but it is not just any full moon. It is a supermoon and a 'wolf moon' combined, appearing larger and brighter than usual. This event also concludes a four-month sequence of supermoons; the next similar occurrence will not be until November.
A supermoon occurs when the full moon is at its closest point to Earth, known as perigee. According to NASA, the moon's distance tonight will be approximately 363,300 kilometers. The moon's orbit is elliptical, causing variations in its distance from Earth.
The term 'wolf moon' originates from Native American and medieval European traditions, referring to the January full moon when wolves are believed to howl more frequently. Different cultures historically assigned names to full moons based on seasonal events.
The moon will be officially full at 9:02 pm AEDT. The best viewing time is around dusk, when an optical illusion makes the moon appear larger on the horizon. If missed, the next supermoons will occur on November 6 and December 5.
