In pics: January's 'Wolf Moon' as seen from New York City, England, Egypt, India and Mexico

The Wolf Moon is the first of three supermoons scheduled for 2026.
PUBLISHED JAN 5, 2026
The Supermoon (Wolf Moon) appears above Saladin's castle on January 3, 2026, in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Sayed Hassan/Getty Images)
The Supermoon (Wolf Moon) appears above Saladin's castle on January 3, 2026, in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Sayed Hassan/Getty Images)

The first month of the year brought a marvelous natural event along with it—the "Wolf Moon." The very first full moon of the year also happened to be a supermoon, and it was no surprise that photographers from all around the world scurried to capture it the best way they could. From the hills of England to the skylines of Egypt and New York, here are glimpses of the supermoon from around the globe.

The full Wolf Moon rises behind people visiting the Edge NYC outdoor observation deck at Hudson Yards in New York City on January 13, 2025, as seen from Hoboken, New Jersey. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Gary Hershorn)
The full Wolf Moon rises behind people visiting the Edge NYC outdoor observation deck at Hudson Yards in New York City on January 13, 2025, as seen from Hoboken, New Jersey. (Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Gary Hershorn)

Glastonbury, England 

On January 4, the Wolf Moon was seen setting behind the historic Downside Abbey. On the previous night, people had climbed the Glastonbury Tor, which is capped by the ruins of the former St. Michael’s Church, to witness the moonrise. In a different but equally beautiful image also from Glastonbury, the Moon was seen amidst the yellow glow of holiday lights.

A full Wolf Moon supermoon, the first full moon of the year, sets behind Downside Abbey on January 4, 2026 in Glastonbury, England (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
A full Wolf Moon supermoon, the first full moon of the year, sets behind Downside Abbey on January 4, 2026, in Glastonbury, England (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

 

A full Wolf Moon supermoon rises behind still illuminated Christmas lights on January 3, 2026 in Glastonbury, England (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
A full Wolf Moon supermoon rises behind still-illuminated Christmas lights on January 3, 2026, in Glastonbury, England (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

 

A full Wolf Moon supermoon rises behind Glastonbury Tor as people gather to watch the first full moon of the year on January 3, 2026 in Glastonbury, England (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
A full Wolf Moon supermoon rises behind Glastonbury Tor as people gather to watch the first full moon of the year on January 3, 2026, in Glastonbury, England (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

New York City, USA 

The Moon setting behind the Statue of Liberty was one of the greatest moments, captured perfectly at the right time on January 3. The scene became even more amazing when, right at that moment, a United Airlines airplane appeared on the horizon, crossing the lunar face just as the day was about to break.

The full Wolf Moon supermoon sets behind the Statue of Liberty as a United Airlines airplane flies past as the sun rises on January 3, 2026, in New York City (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
The full Wolf Moon supermoon sets behind the Statue of Liberty as a United Airlines airplane flies past as the sun rises on January 3, 2026, in New York City (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

Cairo, Egypt 

The supermoon created a near-magical atmosphere on January 3 as it shone behind the illuminated domes of the Citadel of Sultan Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi, also known as Saladin's castle, in Cairo, Egypt.

The supermoon (wolf moon) appears above Saladin's castle on January 3, 2026 in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Sayed Hassan/Getty Images)
The supermoon (wolf moon) appears above Saladin's castle on January 3, 2026, in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Sayed Hassan/Getty Images)

Kashmir, India 

In Kashmir, too, the supermoon was brilliant no matter the perspective it was captured from. In one image, it is seen shining behind the minaret of a mosque, while in another, it is seen peeking from between two minarets.

The full Moon rises over the minaret of a mosque, illuminating the night sky, on January 3, 2026 in Kashmir, India. (Photo by Yawar Nazir/Getty Images)
The full moon rises over the minaret of a mosque, illuminating the night sky, on January 3, 2026, in Kashmir, India. (Photo by Yawar Nazir/Getty Images)

 

The full Moon rises over the minaret of a mosque, illuminating the night sky, on January 3, 2026 in Kashmir, India. (Photo by Yawar Nazir/Getty Images)
The full Moon rises over the minaret of a mosque, illuminating the night sky, on January 3, 2026, in Kashmir, India. (Photo by Yawar Nazir/Getty Images)

Cocoyoc, Mexico 

In Mexico on January 2, the moon was seen rising behind the volcano Popocatepetl, which was large and bright enough to be visible even amidst pollution.

A view of the full moon rising behind Popocatepetl, with air pollution on January 2, 2026, in Cocoyoc, Mexico (Photo by Cristopher Rogel Blanquet/Getty Images)
A view of the full moon rising behind Popocatepetl, with air pollution, on January 2, 2026, in Cocoyoc, Mexico (Photo by Cristopher Rogel Blanquet/Getty Images)

The sighting of the Wolf Moon is a remarkable event for astronomers. In addition to being the first noteworthy lunar phenomenon of 2026, it also marks the end of the streak of supermoons, which started in late 2025, per BBC Weather. A supermoon appears when the moon is near its closest point to our planet in its orbit. Hence, when the moon is at this point, it can appear to be as much as 14% larger and also be 30% brighter than a regular full moon. This year, space enthusiasts have a lot more to celebrate. After January's supermoon, the night sky will be graced with two more supermoons later this winter. The first is the Beaver Moon on 24 November, and then the Cold Moon on 23 December.

The lunar calendar generally has 12 full moons a year, but 2026 will be a little different. An additional full moon, known as the Blue Moon, will grace the skies on May 31. Ever heard of the expression "once in a blue moon"? Yeah, this is where it comes from.

More on Starlust

2026 key skywatching events: Blue Moon, total solar eclipse and more

Track the moon in 2026 with NASA: Lunar phases and libration

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