On January 13, 2025, the first full moon of the year will appear on Monday night. On this night, for most parts of the United States mainland, as well as some areas in Africa, Canada, and Mexico, the moon will pass in front of Mars. While enjoying the full moon, there is a chance to see Mars in the night sky alongside the moon.
According to NASA, the first full moon of January is known as the Wolf Moon, Ice Moon, or Old Moon. It will appear at 5:27 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, then pass through the South Africa and Eastern Europe time zones, moving eastward through Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and other regions until the International Date Line. From Sunday night (or early Monday morning) to Wednesday morning, a large and bright moon can be observed.
The Farmers’ Almanac in Maine began publishing Native American names for full moons in the 1930s. Over time, these names have become widely known and used. According to the almanac, the full moon in January is called the Wolf Moon because in the cold snowy winter, the howling of wolves could be heard outside the villages. However, the name Wolf Moon does not imply any different appearance or behavior for the January full moon compared to any other full moon.
The European names for this moon include Ice Moon, Old Moon, and post-Christmas Full Moon (after the winter solstice).
January 2025 is also a good time to observe Mars, as the red planet will be close to opposition on January 16. In astronomy, opposition means a planet is opposite the sun in the sky, making Mars appear large and bright, the optimal time for viewing Mars.
Therefore, January 12-16 will be the best time to observe Mars through a telescope and learn about its features. However, after opposition, Mars will not suddenly dim.
Bright Mars will appear alongside the first full moon of the year in the sky, treating stargazers to a wonderful sight.
The opportunity to see the moon eclipse a bright planet is rare in the night sky; for Mars, this specific position can be seen on Earth on average every 14 years. If you are lucky enough to live in the eclipse zone and the weather cooperates, this upcoming event is not to be missed.
If you are watching the Wolf Moon and hoping to catch a glimpse of Mars, EarthSky suggests using a distant object to block the right half of the moon, allowing you to try to see Mars through the moonlight.
Here is the process of Mars and the moon’s encounter:
Starting around 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time on January 13 (19:30 UTC), you will see the full moon rising in the eastern sky, with Mars located to the lower left of the moon.
By 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time (22:30 UTC), Mars and the moon will be closer and higher in the sky, appearing in the southeast.
By midnight on January 13, Mars will be to the left of the moon, both in the south.
From this point, the two celestial bodies will move towards the western horizon, with Mars getting closer to the moon, crossing over the north of the moon in the early hours of January 14.
Later on January 14, as Mars and the moon rise in the evening, observers will notice Mars above and to the right of the moon. As the night falls, the distance between the two planets will increase.
This article referenced a report from BBC Sky at Night magazine.