The upcoming Wolf Moon, the first full moon of 2025, will be visible on January 13, although it will appear full on January 12 and 14 as well. Often cited to have received its name from indigenous cultures noting the howling of wolves in January, the Wolf Moon symbolizes the stark and cold winter nights many have faced.
Amy Ray, an astronomer at the Hobby-Eberly Telescope in Texas, shared insights about this lunar event. She noted that in contemporary times, the significance of moonlight might feel diminished due to our reliance on artificial light; however, for our ancestors, the illumination provided by the moon during the shorter winter days would have offered a sense of hope.
A particularly exciting feature of this year’s Wolf Moon is the occultation of Mars, an astronomical event where Mars will temporarily disappear behind the moon for about one hour. This phenomenon will begin around 7:50 PM Central Time for West Texas and around 8:00 PM for East Texas. Stargazers will have the opportunity to see the red planet appear to glide behind and then re-emerge from the moon’s surface, creating a stunning visual for onlookers.
In addition to this captivating lunar spectacle, the nights leading up to the Wolf Moon promise a celestial treat as six planets will be visible in the night sky. Among these, Jupiter will be observed directly overhead, while Venus and Saturn will be seen close together in the western sky. Particularly notable will be their conjunction on January 17 and 18, where they will be just two degrees apart, a relatively rare occurrence that can be appreciated even by the naked eye.
With the Wolf Moon and these planetary alignments, the sky is inviting everyone to step outside, gaze up, and perhaps even howl in celebration, reminding us of the beauty and wonder of our night sky. This event serves to reconnect people not only with the celestial wonders but also with the historical significance they held for earlier generations, imbuing a sense of community and shared experience under the moonlight.