This year is looking very promising in terms of celestial events, and the second full moon of the year is set to light up the skies this week, bringing some pre-Valentine’s Day romance.
February’s full moon is dubbed the “Snow Moon” taking its name from the heavy snowfall that traditionally occurs this time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Of course, this doesn’t mean much for those in the Southern Hemisphere where it is the height of summer, but it is still uncommonly bright! If you’re eager to catch a glimpse, here is everything you need to know about the full Snow Moon.
When can you see the Snow Moon in Australia?
Why is it called the ‘Snow Moon’?
All full moons have names that typically come from ancient tradition or lore. The name of February’s full moon is known as the snow moon because the shortest month of the year is also usually the snowiest. Some cultures in the Northern Hemisphere have their own interpretations of this full moon. For example, some native American tribes call it the Hunger Moon due to the scarcity of food and challenging hunting conditions due to bad weather around this time.
Where to see the Snow Moon?
Thanks to the Snow Moon’s brightness, you should be able to see it from almost anywhere, but it might be a bit trickier than usual if it’s cloudy.
And, of course, if you’re looking for the best viewing experience, we recommend heading out to a dark, clear location like the Mt Coot-tha Summit Lookout — although the light pollution coming from the city might make it a bit difficult — or, if you don’t mind a bit of a longer drive, places like Wild Horse Mountain and Lake Moogerah offer expansive views of the night sky.
To calculate sunrise and moonrise times in your location and make sure you’re catching it at its best, head here.
When are the next notable moons?
You won’t want to miss the Snow Moon, although we still have many other phenomena to look forward to. Some of the coolest 2026 moons will rise on the following dates:
- March 3 — Total lunar eclipse
- November 24 — Beaver Moon
- December 23 — Cold Moon