The first nights of the year arrive with a particularly turbulent sky: the January supermoon, Also known as Wolf MoonIt will coincide with the peak of one of the most intense meteor showers of the year, the QuadrantidsThe result will be a start to 2026 in which the Moon will shine brightly over Spain and the rest of Europe, while a meteor shower tries to make its way through all that brilliance.
This curious astronomical "two-for-one" doesn't require telescopes or complicated equipment. A reasonably clear sky and a location with little light pollution are all you need to enjoy it. first big full moon of winterHowever, the spectacle of shooting stars will be somewhat limited by the intensity of the moonlight.
When will January's supermoon occur and why is it considered special?
La January supermoon will occur January 3when the Moon reaches its full phase and shows its fully illuminated disk. In Spain, the maximum of the full phase is around peninsular midday (around 11:00-11:15), but the almost perfect moon appearance can be seen for several nights, from approximately January 1st to 4th.
What makes this full moon a supermoon is its proximity to the perigeeThe perigee, the point in the orbit where the satellite is closest to Earth. Perigee will occur on January 2nd at 2:00 AM (Spanish peninsular time), when the distance will be reduced to about 360.431 kilometersAt that time the Moon will not yet be completely full, but will be about 97% illuminated.
On the night of January 3, already in the full moon phase, the distance will have increased by just a few 3.000 kilometersa variation imperceptible to the human eye. Even so, the phenomenon falls within the popular definition of superlunabecause the full moon phase and perigee occur within a few hours of each other.
According to usual estimates, during a supermoon the lunar disk may appear between 7% and 14% larger and until a 30% brighter than the smallest full moon of the year. The difference is subtle and only those who frequently observe the sky usually notice it clearly, but the extra brightness is perceived as a more intense glow that dominates the sky.
In Spain, the moonrise The afternoon of the 3rd will take place around 17:30 (a few minutes earlier or later depending on the location). It will coincide almost exactly with sunset, so, looking east, the Moon will appear low on the horizon, with a very striking orange or reddish hue before gradually turning white as it rises higher.
The Wolf Moon: names, traditions and curiosities
La first full moon of the year In much of the northern hemisphere, it is called Wolf MoonThe term became popular from ancient references by North American indigenous peoples and later compilations such as the Farmer's almanacwho associated each full moon with key moments in the agricultural and hunting calendar.
In the dead of winter, with short days and cold nights, the howls of wolves They echoed around the villages, and that image became linked to the January full moon. Other North American cultures use different names, such as Goose Moon, Old Moon or Cold MoonIn the English-speaking world it is also commonly called “Moon after Yule”alluding to the fact that it is the first full moon after the Winter Solstice.
In the southern hemisphere, where January corresponds to summer, this full moon has received names such as Deer Moon, Hay Moon or Mead MoonThese names are linked to the harvest rhythms and agricultural tasks typical of that time of year. Although modern astronomy simply refers to the "January full moon" in a neutral way, these traditional names have persisted in popular culture and the media.
This start of the year will be especially eventful in terms of lunar phases, as the 2026 calendar will include 13 full moons instead of the usual 12. The reason is the appearance of a call blue MoonThe name used when there are two full moons in the same month. In this case, it is expected on May 31, several months after the January supermoon.
Furthermore, the January full moon coincides with a significant date in Earth's orbit: the day On January 3rd, the Earth passes through perihelion, the point of closest approach to the Sun. In 2026, our planet will then be about 147 million km of the star, about five million less than at aphelion, which will occur in July. Despite the striking nature of this fact, this change in distance barely affects daily life, but it does illustrate how several astronomical cycles intersect these days.
How to see the January supermoon from Spain and Europe
Observe the January supermoon It's simple: you don't need a telescope or binoculars. However, choosing the right place and time, using a map of the night skyIt can make the difference between a simple glance at the sky and a more memorable experience.
In the Iberian Peninsula, the best time to enjoy the visual spectacle will be late afternoon/evening of January 3rdShortly after sunset. When the moon rises low over the eastern horizon, it will be visible large and very eye-catchingstill tinged with the colors of twilight. That feeling of extra size, known as lunar illusionThis is combined with the slight actual increase in the size of the supermoon, reinforcing the impression of proximity.
To properly appreciate the rising or setting of the Moon, it is advisable to look for a clear horizonWithout tall buildings, nearby mountains, or trees to block the view. Any hill, beach, or viewpoint away from bright streetlights will do. In large cities, simply travel a few kilometers from the center or climb to a high point with an open view to the east or west.
During the night of the 3th to the 4thThe supermoon will be visible for many hours, so even if clouds appear occasionally, there will be plenty of clear skies. If the sky isn't clear that day, the lunar disk will look very similar the night before and the night after, as the change in illumination is minimal around the full moon.
The supermoon will also be visible from the rest of Europe and the Northern Hemisphere in general, as long as it's nighttime and the sky is clear. The only thing that changes between regions is the specific time of moonrise and moonset, but the phenomenon is global.
Supermoon and meteor shower: the Quadrantid challenge
January's supermoon won't arrive alone. Its brightness will coincide with the peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower, considered one of the most intense of the year along with the Perseids in August and the Gemini from December.
According to organizations such as the International Meteor OrganizationUnder ideal conditions, the Quadrantids can reach a hourly zenith rate of 120 meteors per hour, and some forecasts raise the theoretical figure to as high as 200 meteors per hourHowever, the peak activity of this rain is especially short, lasting only a few minutes. six hourswhich in itself complicates its observation.
In 2026, the peak is expected on the night of January 3 to 4approximately around 21: 00 GMT (the 22:00 in mainland SpainThe problem is that, precisely during that interval, the sky will be dominated by the strong light of the full moon in supermoon modewhich acts as a natural spotlight and prevents you from seeing the fainter meteors.
Specialists and planetarium experts agree that the The full moon is the main enemy of a good meteor shower. The practical result is that, instead of seeing dozens of meteors per hour in a dark sky, this year you're most likely only going to see a few. brighter flashesSome estimates suggest less than 10 meteors per hour during the peak from areas with good darkness, compared to the 20-25 per hour that could be seen on a moonless night.
Even so, both the supermoon and the Quadrantids will be visible without instrumentsThose with patience and a bit of luck may be able to catch a shooting star streaking through the intense lunar glare, especially if certain precautions are taken when choosing the observation site.
Where do the Quadrantids come from and where to look
The Quadrantids They have a different origin than many other known showers. Instead of originating from the debris of a comet, they appear to be linked to a asteroid: The 2003 EH1, identified in 2003 by astronomer Peter Jenniskens. This body is believed to be related to the comet C/1490 Y1, observed about 500 years ago by astronomers from China, Japan and Korea.
The Quadrantid meteors are fast and very bright, with speeds around 41 km / hIts radiant—the point in the sky from which it appears to originate—is located in the area of the constellation of Bootes (the Cowherd)in the east-northeast part of the sky. The name of the rain, however, comes from an old constellation now obsolete, Mural Quadrans, removed from the official catalog in the 20th century.
For observers in Spain and the rest of the North HemisphereThe best position of the radiant is achieved in the hours before dawnWhen it is highest above the horizon, meteors can appear virtually anywhere in the sky, so it's best not to focus on just one point: it's preferable to take in a large portion of the celestial sphere.
In a year without a full moon, the usual thing to do would be to find a very dark place and let your eyes adjust to the absence of light for at least 20 minutesavoiding mobile phones and screens. In 2026, in addition to these tips, it will be advisable try to block the moonlight by placing the Moon behind a mountain, a row of buildings, or a strip of trees, so that the sky remains visible but the direct glare is partially hidden.
However, experts acknowledge that this won't be the best year to enjoy the Quadrantids. We'll have to be content with a few isolated meteors and wait for future years, when the new moon or the darker phases of the meteor shower will better coincide with the peak activity.
The lunar calendar for January and other associated phenomena
Beyond the supermoon and the meteor shower, January 2026 presents a Moon's calendar very marked for those who enjoy following the phases of the Moon from Spain.
After full moon of January 3The satellite will gradually lose light until it reaches the waning quarter on the 10th. The new Moon will come January 18This is the time when the night sky will be darkest and therefore more favorable for observing galaxies, clusters, and nebulae with binoculars or a telescope. Finally, the crescent quarter will occur January 26, paving the way for the next cycle.
During the first few days of the month, with the supermoon at its peak, the lunar brightness will completely dominate the celestial vault and It will reduce the visibility of fainter stars.As the Moon progresses towards its waning phase, the night sky will gradually regain its darkness, allowing for clearer visibility of the great winter constellations, such as Orion, Taurus, and Geminiand very bright stars like Sirio.
The month will also bring some interesting conjunctionsOn the night of January 3-4, the Moon will pass close to JupiterThis offers a good opportunity to observe the gas giant with binoculars, as it will appear as a very bright point near the lunar disk. Later on, the January 10Jupiter will reach opposition, meaning it will be in a straight line with the Earth and the Sun and will show its maximum apparent brightness in the night sky.
Throughout the month other alignments will occur, such as the conjunction of the Moon with the cluster of the Manger or with the Pleiades by the end of January, and the presence of Venus after sunset, once again standing out as a very bright star on the western horizon as the weeks go by.
For astronomy enthusiasts, this January offers a good opportunity to see how the Moonlight influences the type of observations Possible: nights close to the full moon are best for enjoying the night landscape and the Moon itself, while the days around the new moon are the best for searching for deep sky objects.
The start of 2026 is packed with activity in the sky: a January's supermoon was particularly brightThe moon, known for centuries as the Wolf Moon, will coincide with the brief but intense peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower and several other interesting events on the lunar and planetary calendar. Although the moon's glare will make the meteor shower difficult to see, the combination of these phenomena makes the nights of January 3rd and 4th an ideal time to look up, closely observe the moon's cycles, and enjoy one of the most accessible spectacles offered by the winter sky over Spain and the rest of Europe.
