Snow Moon Peaks Wednesday for Meteorological Winter Finale

The second full moon of the year, known as the snow moon, will reach its peak on Wednesday. This marks the third and final full moon of meteorological winter, which spans from December to February.

Peak illumination will take place in the morning East Coast time, although ongoing snowstorms in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic may obstruct views of the snow moon. Cloud cover will also be significant across much of the Lower 48 amid a period of active storms.

Before its peak, the snow moon will appear nearly full on Monday and Tuesday and will continue to be visible on Thursday and Friday. Additionally, there will be several other celestial attractions.

When to look up: The snow moon will achieve peak illumination on Wednesday morning at 8:53 a.m. Eastern time, as reported by earthsky.org. On the East Coast, the moon will set before officially reaching its fullest point on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, people on the West Coast can catch a glimpse of it low on the horizon in the west-northwest if they wake up early. Should clouds obstruct visibility, any difference will be imperceptible to the naked eye from Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening.

Due to the extensive storminess across the United States this week, views of the moon may be limited primarily to short glimpses across the eastern half of the country during its peak illumination. The best chances for sustained clear skies will be over the Pacific Northwest and in southern regions like Texas and Florida.

Why the name? Full moons are given various names, often based on the outdoor activities of Native Americans and farmers during that time of year. The name snow moon is particularly fitting for the last full moon of meteorological winter.

"February's typically cold, snowy weather in North America earned its full moon the name snow moon," according to the Royal Museums Greenwich. "Other common names are storm moon and hunger moon."

February is generally the snowiest month of the year for many parts of the northern hemisphere, as winter remains strong, and early signs of spring moisture begin to emerge.

In 2025, the lunar cycle will allow for one full moon each month, occurring every 29.5 days. Notably, supermoons—when the moon appears closest and brightest—are expected from October through December. Following the snow moon, the next full moon will be the worm moon on March 14.

What else is in the sky this week? Aside from the full moon, various other phenomena are also worth watching for this week. Despite the clouds and bright moon potentially hindering visibility, the cold winter air tends to be relatively pollutant-free, which can be advantageous for skywatching.

On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, the moon will pass near Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo, located at the end of a sickle that resembles a backward question mark.

On Valentine's Day, Venus—named after the Roman goddess of love—will shine at its brightest for the year. Look for it toward the sunset direction during the evening, making it hard to miss.

Moreover, solar winds from recent solar storms are currently impacting Earth, enhancing aurora borealis activity, especially at higher latitudes through midweek.