On Paush Purnima, first 'Wolf Supermoon' to light up the sky today
New Delhi, Jan 3
Paush Purnima, the first full moon of the Hindu lunar calendar in 2026 will be observed on Saturday, coinciding with a spectacular celestial event, the year's first supermoon which is also being called the 'Wolf Supermoon'.
The bright Wolf Supermoon is expected to illuminate the night sky, appearing slightly larger and brighter than a typical full Moon as it rises opposite the Sun in the constellation Gemini. It will be the first full Moon of 2026 and the first in a series of three supermoons anticipated this year.
A supermoon occurs when a full Moon coincides with perigee, the point in the Moon's elliptical orbit when it comes closest to Earth. Because the Moon's distance from Earth varies between approximately 356,000 km and 406,000 km, its apparent size and brightness change throughout the year.
On January 3, the Moon will be at a distance of about 362,000 km from Earth. At this proximity, it is expected to appear around 6 to 14 per cent larger and nearly 13 to 30 per cent brighter than when it is at apogee, its farthest point from Earth.
January's full Moon is traditionally referred to as the Wolf Moon, a name that originates from folklore in the Northern Hemisphere. The term is associated with midwinter nights when wolves were often heard howling near villages. While the name holds cultural and historical significance, it is now commonly used to identify the first full Moon of the year.
According to Time and Date, the Wolf Moon is expected to rise at around 3:32 PM IST on Saturday. Although the Moon may appear fully illuminated for a few nights around the full Moon, its peak illumination will occur on January 3.
Astronomically, a full Moon occurs when the Moon is positioned directly opposite the Sun in Earth's sky, allowing its entire visible surface to be illuminated. This alignment happens roughly once every 27 days. Casual observers may perceive the Moon as full on surrounding nights, but the precise moment of full illumination marks the official full Moon.
Paush Purnima holds immense religious and spiritual importance, with devotees participating in holy baths, fasting, prayers, and charitable activities.
According to traditional Hindu Panchang calculations, the Purnima Tithi that began on the evening of January 2 will conclude on the afternoon of January 3, making Saturday the primary day of observance. Paush Purnima falls in the Paush month, which is considered highly auspicious for spiritual practices, particularly during the winter season.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The science behind the supermoon is fascinating. 362,000 km is incredibly close! It's amazing how our ancestors marked time with these celestial events like Paush Purnima, and now we can explain the 'why' behind the brightness. Will be setting up my telescope tonight.
Interesting article, but a small point of feedback. While the 'Wolf Moon' name is explained, it would have been nice to elaborate more on the specific Indian names for the full moon in the month of Paush from different regions. The cultural context here is as rich as the astronomy.
Visiting India from the UK and this is such a wonderful thing to experience! The blend of a major religious observance with a clear astronomical event is something you don't see everywhere. Looking forward to seeing the celebrations and the bright moon.
My grandmother has been talking about the importance of Paush Purnima for days. She says the prayers offered today have special significance. The supermoon just feels like the universe is amplifying that energy. Jai Shri Ram! 🙏 Going to the temple with her this evening.
The technical details about perigee and apogee are very well explained. As an astronomy enthusiast, I appreciate articles that don't oversimplify. Hoping for clear skies tonight to get some good photographs of the Wolf Supermoon over the Delhi skyline.
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