February brings a stunning full moon before Valentine’s Day: how to enjoy the Snow Moon in USA
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the second full moon of 2025, the Snow Moon will be visible in the night sky.
Astronomy enthusiasts are in for a treat, as 2025 promises to be another fantastic year for enjoying various celestial phenomena like meteor showers, eclipses, and full moons that grace our skies. One of the most anticipated events is the striking red Snow Moon, the second full moon of 2025, following on from January’s Wolf Moon.
When is the 2025 Snow Moon?
The second full moon of 2025 can be enjoyed when it reaches peak illumination on Wednesday, February 12, starting at 8:53 a.m. ET, influenced by the constellation Leo, according to the National Geographic Institute. The best time to view this astronomical event will be at 12:18 p.m. ET on the same day, accompanied by the star Regulus.
The Snow Moon will still be visible under clear skies on Thursday and Friday as it begins its descent into the waning phase once more, entering the third quarter phase on Thursday 20 February.
For those who do plan to post up and take in the beauty of the Snow Moon, the Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts, highlighted that you might be able to see Leo constellations.
Timelapse of this morning's Snow Moon setting over Portsmouth and fading into the morning light.
— Rob Wright Images 🌻 (@RobWrightImages) February 12, 2025
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February 12, 2025
Portsmouth, New Hampshire pic.twitter.com/tW23vctniX
The best places to see the 2025 Snow Moon
To fully enjoy the Snow Moon - the third and final full moon of meteorological winter, it’s recommended to find an elevated location, a dark area free of objects or obstructions that might interrupt your view of the moon, allowing you to appreciate the satellite’s brightness on February 12. The full moon should be clearly to the naked eye without any need for binoculars or a telescope.
Snow Moon tomorrow. ❄️
— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) February 11, 2025
This time lapse video shows the Lunar Occultation of Mars visible from New Orleans, Louisiana, on Jan. 13, 2025. This first full moon of the year also blocked the planet Mars for around an hour. pic.twitter.com/XHbgiJP9S6
Why is it called the Snow Moon?
According to legend, the first full moon of the year is called the Wolf Moon because its appearance made wolves howl more intensely than usual due to the satellite’s aspect. Another, perhaps more logical, explanation is that animals howl louder out of desperation due to the scarcity of food during this time of year.
Tonight’s full Snow Moon will have a royal companion as it rises alongside Regulus, a star in the constellation Leo nicknamed “Heart of the Lion” - just in time for Valentine’s Day.
The next full moon, the Worm Moon, will rise on March 14 coinciding with a total lunar eclipse. During this spectacular event, the Moon will turn red for 1 hour and six minutes — the duration of the total phase.
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