Key Takeaways
- First supermoon of 2026 coincides with Wolf Moon on January 3
- Moon will be at perigee, just 362,312 km from Earth
- Visible from Makkah and Medina, weather permitting
The first supermoon of 2026 will be visible on Saturday, January 3, as the Wolf Moon reaches its fullest phase while positioned at its closest point to Earth this lunar cycle.
The celestial event will be visible from the holy cities of Makkah and Medina, offering potential viewing opportunities from Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi under clear weather conditions.
The supermoon will reach peak fullness at approximately 10:03 GMT (1:03 PM local time in Saudi Arabia) on January 3, 2026. At that moment, the moon will be at perigee—its closest orbital approach to Earth—at a distance of about 362,312 kilometers.
This proximity will make the Wolf Moon appear approximately 14% larger and 30% brighter than a typical full moon at its farthest point (apogee).
The term “Wolf Moon” originates from traditional Native American and European folklore, marking the first full moon of January when wolf packs were historically heard howling outside villages during deep winter.
While the exact timing of peak fullness occurs during daylight hours in Saudi Arabia, the moon will still appear exceptionally large and bright as it rises on the evening of January 3.
Visibility from the holy sites will depend entirely on local atmospheric conditions.
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