Supermoon 2027
The supermoon is January 22.
The Wolf Moon of Friday, January 22, 2027 is 357,635 km from Earth, the closest full moon of 2027. Exactly full at 12:17 UTC, which is 12:17 UTC in your time zone.
The definitions
One supermoon or two? It depends who you ask.
“Supermoon” is not an astronomical term with one official meaning. It was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 for a new or full moon within 90% of its closest approach to Earth in that orbit. Many publications use a simpler cut-off instead, such as a full moon closer than about 360,000 km. The two rules give different answers for 2027.
By distance alone, 2027 has one supermoon: the Wolf Moon of January 22 at 357,635 km. By the 90% rule, it has 2: the Wolf Moon of January 22 and the Snow Moon of February 20. The Cold Moon of December 13 comes close at 368,131 km, but its threshold is 368,081 km: it misses by 50 km.
Right before 2027 starts, the last full moon of 2026 on December 24 is an even closer supermoon at 356,729 km, so two big full moons arrive four weeks apart.
Every full moon of 2027, closest first.
| Full moon | Distance | 90% threshold | Margin | Supermoon? | Disc vs average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf Moon Jan 22 | 357,635 km | 362,163 km | +4528 km | Yes, every definition | +7.5% |
| Snow Moon Feb 20 | 363,296 km | 365,424 km | +2128 km | Yes, 90% rule only | +5.8% |
| Cold Moon Dec 13 | 368,131 km | 368,081 km | −50 km | No | +4.4% |
| Worm Moon Mar 22 | 372,518 km | 370,215 km | −2303 km | No | +3.2% |
| Beaver Moon Nov 14 | 378,754 km | 372,834 km | −5920 km | No | +1.5% |
| Pink Moon Apr 20 | 383,421 km | 373,410 km | −10011 km | No | +0.2% |
| Hunter’s Moon Oct 15 | 389,926 km | 372,229 km | −17697 km | No | −1.4% |
| Flower Moon May 20 | 393,893 km | 370,438 km | −23455 km | No | −2.4% |
| Harvest Moon Sep 15 | 399,341 km | 367,634 km | −31707 km | No | −3.8% |
| Strawberry Moon Jun 19 | 401,943 km | 366,091 km | −35852 km | No | −4.4% |
| Sturgeon Moon Aug 17 | 405,069 km | 363,883 km | −41186 km | No | −5.1% |
| Buck Moon Jul 18 | 405,968 km | 363,066 km | −42902 km | No, micromoon | −5.4% |
Distances are Earth center to Moon center at the exact moment of full moon, computed with astronomy-engine. Thresholds use the perigee and apogee nearest to each full moon.
Watching it
How to see the difference.
The January supermoon is about 14% wider and roughly 29% brighter than the July micromoon. Your eye will not measure that, but a photo will: shoot both with the same lens and zoom, and compare. The best moment for everyone is moonrise on the evening of the full moon, when the Moon hangs low in the east and the moon illusion makes it look enormous. In the northern hemisphere the January full moon also rides high through the long winter night.
See the local moonrise for 14 cities on the Wolf Moon page, or put every full moon in your calendar.
In your own calendar
Get a reminder for the supermoon.
Subscribe to the 2027 full moons and the supermoon shows up at the right time in your own time zone.
FAQ
Supermoon 2027, answered.
When is the supermoon in 2027?
The biggest supermoon of 2027 is the Wolf Moon on Friday, January 22, 2027, exactly full at 12:17 UTC and 357,635 km from Earth. It is a supermoon under every common definition.
How many supermoons are there in 2027?
One or two, depending on the definition. Only January 22 is closer than 360,000 km. Under the broader rule (a full moon within 90% of perigee for that orbit) the Wolf Moon of January 22 and the Snow Moon of February 20 both count. The Cold Moon of December 13 misses that threshold by 50 km.
How much bigger does a supermoon look?
Compared with the smallest full moon of 2027, the Buck Moon at 405,968 km, the January supermoon looks about 14% wider and roughly 29% brighter. Side by side on photos that is obvious; by eye, without a comparison, most people cannot tell.
What is a micromoon?
A micromoon is the opposite of a supermoon: a full moon near apogee, the farthest point of the Moon’s orbit. The micromoon of 2027 is the Buck Moon of July 18-19, 405,968 km away.