January's full 'Wolf Moon' might be the most unique of 2025
Tonight marks the first full moon of 2025 – the Wolf Moon – but it's not the only planetary mass making an appearance.
The Wolf Moon will rise on the evening of Monday, 13 January, and in some areas of the world it brings a rare look at the planet Mars, which will appear as a reddish dot alongside it.
Mars will be visible alongside the Wolf Moon in the US and West Africa, and through a telescope in the UK. Some reports suggest it may also be visible with the naked eye if looking towards the eastern horizon in the UK, though weather conditions could affect visibility.
We typically see 12 full moons in a year, each with a different name. The 'Wolf Moon' was coined in the 1930s by The Maine Farmers' Almanac after wolf cries were heard in the depths of winter.
This is what we know about the upcoming Wolf Moon, including how to watch it, where its name derives from and the superstitions around it.
How to see January's Wolf Moon
Tonight's full moon is an unusual one according to the BBC Sky at Night Magazine, as it will continue to rise throughout the evening. The publication reported: "On January 13, if you step outside around 7.30pm and look to the east, you'll see the Full Moon rising higher and higher in the sky. Just below and to the left of the moon will be a red 'star', which is the planet Mars."
The moon will begin to rise at sunset, which typically occurs at around 4.30pm in January, and will continue to rise in the sky throughout the evening.
Stargazers and budding astronomers should step outside to see the full moon just after sunset, when it's expected to be surrounded by warm amber, pink and orange colours in a spectacular celestial show.
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What is special about the Wolf Moon?
Aesthetically, the year's first full moon is unusual for a few reasons. The Wolf Moon will be the highest-hanging full moon of 2025 in the Northern Hemisphere and will be in the sky for the longest.
The sun is at its lowest in the middle of winter, and as the Moon mirrors the sun's path across the sky, it will be at its highest position.
Mid-January still sees longer nights (which means that the moon is visible for more time in the sky), but following the winter solstice in December, these will now begin to get shorter as we make way for spring.
What does the January Wolf Moon mean?
Spiritually, this first new moon signifies a chance to let go of the past and is considered a cathartic time when many perform new moon rituals. This could simply be naming things you want to let go of mentally.
There's also ancient folklore about what the appearance of the new moon symbolises. According to the Almanac website: "A bright first Moon promises rain and a bountiful harvest; a red-tinted Moon means a dry year. A growing Moon and a flowing tide are lucky times to marry. A halo around the Moon predicts wet or stormy weather."
January also marks the beginning of wolf mating season, and that comes with more social behaviours, like travelling in packs. “Howling is for long-distance communication to pull a pack back together and to keep strangers away,” according to the National Wildlife Federation
Why is it called the Wolf Moon?
The 'Wolf Moon' was coined in the 1930s by The Maine Farmers' Almanac, inspired by wolf cries heard in the depths of winter. While winter signifies a period of hibernation for many animals and us humans, wolves continue to roam and hunt.
According to experts at NASA: "The Maine Farmers' Almanac began publishing Native American names for full Moons in the 1930s. Over time, these names have become widely known and used.
"According to this almanac, as the full Moon in January this is the Wolf Moon, from the packs of wolves heard howling outside the villages amid the cold and deep snows of winter."
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