🌙 Moon Phases February 2026: See all lunar phases for February 2026 including new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter dates. Updated with accurate astronomical data.
About February 2026 moon phases
On February 1, 2026, February's full moon — the Snow Moon — falls during the deepest snowfall month for most of North America. The name traces to 18th-century colonial-American sources, who borrowed it from Cherokee and Algonquin naming traditions. Some years February has no full moon at all (a 'black moon'), happening roughly once every 19 years.
Benefits
- ·Marks the snowfall peak in most of the US
- ·Identifies any rare black-moon February
- ·Lists Lunar New Year date (often falls in February)
- ·Pairs with shortest-month calendar planning
- ·Tracks ice-out dates for fishermen
How it works
the February 2026 full moon peaks on February 1, 2026. Throughout 2026, the moon completes 12-13 full cycles, each lasting 29.53 days. Distance from Earth varies between 356,500 km (perigee) and 406,700 km (apogee), creating supermoon and micromoon size differences of about 14%. Full-moon timing data on this page comes from the US Naval Observatory and NASA Goddard.
Because February has only 28 or 29 days but the lunar cycle is 29.5 days, sometimes a full moon occurring just before February skips the month entirely — this rare 'black moon' month always coincides with two full moons in another month. The next February-skip is in 2026 and 2037.
Who uses February 2026 moon phases
Photographers planning moonrise shots 2026, February-specific cultural and religious observers, astrology readers tracking February transits, fishermen and surfers reading tide cycles, and anyone curious about which full moon comes next.
Moon Phases February 2026
Moon phases for February 2026. Full Moon on February 1. New Moon on February 17. See daily moon illumination, lunar calendar, and all phases.
Related
Frequently asked questions
When is the full moon in February 2026?
The full moon in February 2026 falls on February 1, 2026. The exact peak time is shown in the major phases table above. This full moon is traditionally called the Snow Moon in the Old Farmer's Almanac, a name traceable to Algonquian and other Indigenous American sources.
Why is February's full moon called the Snow Moon?
February's full moon is called the Snow Moon in Old Farmer's Almanac tradition, drawn from Indigenous American naming conventions tied to seasonal cycles. Different cultures use different names — Celtic, Chinese, and Hindu calendars assign their own meanings.
When is the new moon in February 2026?
The new moon in February 2026 falls on February 17. New moons are not visible because the moon's lit side faces away from Earth. They are the best night-sky observing nights — without moonlight, fainter stars and meteors become visible.
Why do moon phases shift by date each month?
A complete lunar cycle (synodic month) is 29.53 days, slightly shorter than most calendar months. So each month's full moon falls about 0.5-2 days earlier in the calendar than the previous month's. Occasionally a calendar month contains two full moons — the second is called a "blue moon" (about once every 2.7 years).