🌙 Moon Phases January 2027: See all lunar phases for January 2027 including new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter dates. Updated with accurate astronomical data.
About January 2027 moon phases
On January 22, 2027, January's full moon — the Wolf Moon — rises during the coldest weeks of the Northern Hemisphere winter. Indigenous Algonquian peoples named it for the wolves heard howling outside villages when food was scarce. It typically rises just after sunset against bare-tree silhouettes, making it one of the most photographed moons of the year.
Benefits
- ·Highest, brightest full moon of the year for Northern Hemisphere viewers
- ·Pairs with cold dry air for crystal-clear photography
- ·Marks the start of winter cultural festivals (Lunar New Year prep)
- ·Lists exact moonrise time and elevation angle
- ·Useful for tracking winter tides
How it works
the January 2027 full moon peaks on January 22, 2027. Throughout 2027, 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.
January full moons sit high in the night sky because of the geometry of winter solstice — the Moon's path mirrors the Sun's summer path. Combined with cold, dry winter air (which scatters less light), January moons appear especially crisp and bright. The Wolf Moon name was popularized in the Old Farmer's Almanac in the early 1800s.
Who uses January 2027 moon phases
Photographers planning moonrise shots 2027, January-specific cultural and religious observers, astrology readers tracking January transits, fishermen and surfers reading tide cycles, and anyone curious about which full moon comes next.
Moon Phases January 2027
Moon phases for January 2027. Full Moon on January 22. New Moon on January 7. See daily moon illumination, lunar calendar, and all phases.
Related
Frequently asked questions
When is the full moon in January 2027?
The full moon in January 2027 falls on January 22, 2027. The exact peak time is shown in the major phases table above. This full moon is traditionally called the Wolf Moon in the Old Farmer's Almanac, a name traceable to Algonquian and other Indigenous American sources.
Why is January's full moon called the Wolf Moon?
The Wolf Moon name comes from Indigenous American sources — wolves were heard howling more frequently in midwinter, when food was scarce. The name was popularized in the Old Farmer's Almanac and is now the standard English name for the January full moon.
When is the new moon in January 2027?
The new moon in January 2027 falls on January 7. 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).