Bhubaneswar: Skywatchers enjoyed the first full moon of 2026 in India, including Odisha’s capital city.
January’s full moon, traditionally called the ‘Wolf Moon’, is a supermoon as it appears brighter and larger than usual.
Skywatchers were in for a treat as the full moon, positioned unusually close to Earth, appeared nearly 14 per cent larger and about 30 per cent brighter than the smallest full Moon of the year. The evening and night sky was illuminated in a dazzling display.
#WATCH | Odisha: The first ‘Supermoon’ of 2026, popularly known as the ‘Wolf Moon’, witnessed in Bhubaneswar.
During this celestial event, the moon will appear 30% brighter than an average full moon. pic.twitter.com/xpyUOEibao
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2026
A supermoon is seen when a full moon coincides with perigee — the point in its orbit when it is closest to Earth. At this stage, the moon’s near side is fully illuminated by the sun, creating a strikingly larger and brighter appearance. During this event, the moon will be approximately 362,641 kilometres away from Earth.
The supermoon in India was visible some time after sunset, where the skies remained clear. Globally, the phenomenon will be visible at different local times — early morning in New York, late morning in London, evening in Tokyo and around nightfall in Sydney.
As the moon rises close to the horizon, it glows in warm orange-yellow hues. Its seemingly enlarged appearance near the horizon is explained by the ‘moon illusion,’ a visual phenomenon that makes low-lying celestial objects appear larger than they actually are.
The name ‘Wolf Moon’ is rooted in Northern Hemisphere folklore that associates the lunar phase with wolves howling during long winter nights. It is also commonly referred to as the ‘moon after Yule.’