February’s full moon will reach peak illumination at 5:09 p.m. EST (2209 GMT) on Feb. 1, when the moon’s orbit places it directly opposite the sun in Earth’s sky, making it appear fully lit from our perspective.

The February full moon is often called the “Snow Moon“, in reference to the heavy snowfall that often coats the ground that time of year.

according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

It’s also sometimes known as the “Storm Moon” for the tumultuous weather that occasionally grips the Northern Hemisphere in the month of February, per the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

Guru Ravidas Jayanti, a celebration marking the birth of the Indian spiritual leader Guru Ravidas, whose teachings emphasized equality and challenged the caste systemThe festival is observed with processions, holy baths and acts of worship.

In India, the day of the full moon is also known as Magha Purnima, when devotees engage in acts of charity, fasting and prayer, according to The Economic Times.

Jupiter appearing as a brilliant “evening star” high above the eastern horizon, with the bright stars Castor and Pollux of the constellation Gemini shining to its left. Jupiter will make for a brilliant stargazing target in early February, less than a month after reaching opposition on Jan. 10, when it sat opposite the sun in Earth’s sky, heralding its brightest appearance in 2026.

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The familiar stars of the constellation Orion, the Hunter, will be visible twinkling to the right of Jupiter on the night of Feb. 1, with the light of the red giant star Aldebaran, which represents one of the eyes of the great bull represented in the constellation Taurus, winking above.


Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the Snow Moon in February. (Image credit: Misha Kaminsky/Getty Images)

Regulus — which represents the heart of the lion in the constellation Leo — can be found shining a little over 10 degrees to the lower left of the lunar disk as it rises higher in the winter sky. On the following night (Feb. 2), the moon will pass directly in front of Regulus, occulting the star for observers across parts of North America and Africa, according to In-the-Sky.org.

Meanwhile, Saturn will be visible as a bright point of light shining above the western horizon at sunset on Feb. 1, close to the stars of the constellation Pisces, though the ringed planet will set swiftly out of view less than four hours after sundown.

Look to the east at sunset on Feb. 1 to see the fully-lit Snow Moon shine less than 10 degrees — roughly the width of your outstretched fist — to the lower left of the Beehive Cluster, which lurks in the heart of the constellation Cancer. The vast open cluster plays host to roughly 1,000 bright young stars, though its light will be incredibly challenging to spot in the glare of the full Snow Moon.

landing sites for the Apollo-era missions of the 1960s & 70s, as the entirety of Earth’s natural satellite is bathed in the light of the sun.

Why not also try your hand at astrophotography by using a DSLR camera and telephoto lens to capture the scarred face of the lunar disk and track how the shifting shadows alter its appearance throughout the month? Be sure to make use of our expert guide to photographing the moon, along with our picks of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography, if you want to switch out or improve your equipment.