Snow Moon: When and how to watch the full moon and the Seven Sisters this week

February full moon: Stargazers are in for a visually striking week as the Moon brightens toward its full phase, sharing the winter sky with prominent constellations, bright planets and one of antiquity’s most celebrated stars. The celestial highlight arrives on Sunday, when February’s full Snow Moon rises at dusk alongside Regulus, a star long regarded as royal in ancient astronomy.

From January 26 to February 1, the waxing Moon will pass through star-rich regions of the sky, briefly brushing past the Pleiades cluster and Jupiter before culminating in the season’s second full moon, as reported by Forbes.

Moon’s Journey Through Winter Constellations

As the week begins, the Moon moves from a bright gibbous phase toward fullness, gradually overpowering many faint stars. Still, several notable groupings remain visible, particularly in the early evening hours.


Winter’s familiar constellations: Taurus, Gemini and Leo, dominate the eastern and southeastern sky after sunset. Though moonlight reduces contrast, the brighter stars and planets continue to stand out, offering accessible viewing even from suburban locations.

January 27: Moon Meets the Pleiades

On Tuesday evening, January 27, observers can witness one of the week’s most picturesque alignments. The waxing gibbous Moon, roughly 70 per cent illuminated, appears close to the Pleiades star cluster, also known as M45, in the constellation Taurus.

About an hour after sunset, looking toward the southeast reveals the Moon positioned just to the left of the cluster. While the Moon’s glare washes out the faintest members, the brightest stars of the Pleiades are often called the Seven Sisters . should still be discernible to the naked eye.

This pairing offers a reminder of how the Moon’s orbit regularly carries it through the same regions occupied by ancient star lore.

January 30: A Close Encounter With Jupiter

By Friday, January 30, the nearly full Moon drifts near Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system. Just after nightfall, the two bright objects appear separated by only a few degrees in the eastern sky.

Jupiter, now several weeks past its annual opposition, remains prominent. Nearby, the twin stars Castor and Pollux of the constellation Gemini form a distinctive pattern slightly above and to the left of the planet. The scene provides a striking contrast between reflected moonlight and Jupiter’s steady planetary glow.

February 1: The Full Snow Moon Rises

The week’s centrepiece arrives on Sunday, February 1, when the full moon reaches peak illumination earlier in the day and rises at dusk across much of the world. Known traditionally as the Snow Moon, it reflects seasonal conditions common to the Northern Hemisphere, when heavy snowfall was once typical.

The Snow Moon has also carried other names, including the Hunger Moon and Storm Moon, reflecting the hardships associated with midwinter. As it lifts into the east-northeast around sunset, the Moon takes on a warm, golden hue near the horizon.

Just beneath it shines Regulus, the brightest star in Leo. Regulus, whose name means “Little King,” held special significance in ancient Persian astronomy as one of four Royal Stars believed to guard the heavens at seasonal turning points.

Regulus and the Royal Stars

Regulus belongs to a select group of stars once considered celestial sentinels, alongside Aldebaran, Fomalhaut and Antares. Each was associated with a solstice or equinox, marking the changing year long before modern calendars.

Spotting the Snow Moon rising with Regulus offers a rare visual pairing that connects contemporary stargazing with centuries of astronomical tradition.

Constellation of the Week: Gemini

High in the eastern sky after dark, Gemini, the Twins, remains a focal point throughout the week. Castor and Pollux, the constellation’s defining stars, represent brothers of Greek mythology, one mortal and one immortal.

Between them lies a rich star field frequently visited by the Moon and planets. While telescope users may seek out deep-sky objects such as the open cluster M35 once moonlight fades, Jupiter remains the most obvious attraction for now.