The February 2026 Snow Moon is the second full moon of the year, as it reaches its official peak on Sunday, February 1. As a winter full moon, it can be tracked particularly high in the sky, offering spectacular views.
A full moon always looks its best when it appears over the eastern horizon at twilight. Stargazers may find the spectacle most dramatic when it rises shortly after sunset during the ‘blue hour’. This intriguing vision will be especially prominent in Western America.
The new moon that follows the snow moon will cause an annular “ring of fire” solar eclipse. Stargazers can seize this opportunity on February 17, when 96% of the Sun will be covered by the Moon for up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds. The event will be visible from the remote areas of Antarctica.
February 2026: When can you see the snow moon?
One day after the Full Wolf Supermoon, the nearly full moon Regulus will occult for about an hour as seen from the eastern half of North America. In New York City, Regulus will disappear behind the bright edge of the nearly full moon at 8:51 PM and reemerge at 9:54 PM EST.
The next Full Moon: A Total Lunar Eclipse Blood Moon
The snow moon is the second of 13 Full Moons in 2026. Other lunar highlights this year include a total lunar eclipse in March, a ‘blue moon’ in May and Supermoons in both November and December.
It’s called a blood moon because during a total lunar eclipse, Earth’s atmosphere filters sunlight and scatters blue light, while casting a red or coppery glow on the moon. It has been observed that almost 29% of all lunar eclipses are total lunar eclipses. Earth mainly experiences two lunar eclipses per year.
The next full moon will arrive on March 3, as the year’s only total lunar “blood moon” will occur with a total duration of 58 minutes. Skygazers can enjoy mesmerizing views from North America, Australia, New Zealand, East Asia and the Pacific Ocean. Moreover, it will be the last total lunar eclipse until 2029.
