January’s full wolf supermoon and Quadrantid meteor shower: Two celestial events begin the new year
CNN••general
Key Points:
- The first full moon of 2026, known as the wolf moon, will peak at 5:03 a.m. ET on Saturday and is also the year's first supermoon, appearing larger and brighter due to its proximity to Earth.
- The brightness of the wolf moon will make viewing the Quadrantid meteor shower, which peaks from 4 to 7 p.m. ET Saturday and is best seen from midnight to dawn Sunday, more difficult.
- NASA encourages sky watchers to observe the supermoon ahead of the Artemis II mission planned for early February, which will send astronauts around the moon for the first time in over 50 years.
- The wolf moon’s name originates from Native American traditions, particularly the Sioux language, reflecting increased wolf
