Snow Moon 2025: What is February's full moon and when can you see it?

The Snow Moon in 2024

If you are a keen astronomy fan you may remember the first full Moon of the year in January - the Wolf Moon.

Well, now we are in February it is time for this month's full moon - the Snow Moon.

If you are wanting to catch a glimpse of it, you will want to keep your eye out this week.

Why is February's called the Wolf Moon, and when exactly can you see it? Keep reading to find out.

Why is it called a Snow Moon and how can I see it?

February's full moon is known as the Snow Moon, but is also sometimes called the Storm Moon or Hungry Moon.

It is named this as for many places in North America February is the snowiest month.

The Snow Moon will rise on Wednesday 12 February at around 5pm UK time and should be visible - if it is not too cloudy- until it sets at until it sets just before 8am on 13 February.

Although these timings can change depending on where in the UK you are.

The moon will also appear to look full in the days before and after the peak, so you have an extra chance to spot it.

Why do monthly full moons have names?

Throughout history, people have used the Moon and the light it reflects for different tasks such as hunting, planting and harvesting.

Cultures across the world give these full moons different names to describe what was happening in the month.

The modern calendar no longer follows the Moon's phases exactly, so sometimes there's more than one full moon a month, which is known as a Blue Moon.

Why not use our calendar below to find the name for your birth month's full moon?

What are the names of all the full moons and what do they mean?

January: Wolf Moon

Native Americans and Medieval Europeans called January's full moon a Wolf Moon. It's thought to be because wolves howled more at this time of year as there was less food.

February: Snow Moon

The snowy weather of February in North America led to the name Snow Moon. Other common names include Storm Moon and Hunger Moon.

March: Worm Moon

The Worm Moon appears in March at the end of winter when little creatures like worms begin squirming out of the ground. It's also called Milk Moon.

April: Pink Moon

Disappointingly, the Pink Moon isn't actually pink. It's named by Native Americans after pink flowers called wild ground phlox that bloom in early spring and appear throughout the United States and Canada.

It is also called Egg Moon and Fish Moon in other cultures.

May: Flower Moon

May's flowers are the reason for this month's name.

Other names include the Hare Moon, the Corn Planting Moon, and the Milk Moon.

June: Strawberry Moon

Native American Algonquin tribes named this the Strawberry Moon. This is because they would harvest strawberries at this time.

It's also called the Honey Moon, Rose Moon and Mead Moon.

July: Buck Moon

This is the time when a buck, a male deer, grows its full antlers. This moon is also called Thunder Moon after the summer thunderstorms.

August: Sturgeon Moon

People in North America caught sturgeons, a type of fish, around this time.

It is sometimes known as a Grain Moon or Green Corn Moon or Black Cherries Moon in some cultures.

September: Corn Moon

If it is the nearest full moon to the autumnal equinox, it is called the Harvest Moon instead.

September's full moon is probably called Corn Moon because that's when crops are gathered at the end of the summer season.

At this time, the Moon appears particularly bright, allowing farmers to continue harvesting into the night.

October: Hunter's Moon

This is the time when people would plan for the winter months and hunt animals for food.

Like September's full moon it is sometimes called the Harvest Moon.

November: Beaver Moon

Beavers often start building their dams about this time, which is where it got its name.

It is also sometimes called Frost Moon.

December: Cold Moon

The winter chill gave December's full moon the name Cold Moon.

Other names include the Long Night Moon and the Oak Moon.