Snow Moon: February's Full Moon Explained
The Snow Moon is the full moon traditionally associated with February. In 2027, it reaches its full phase on February 20 and coincides with a penumbral lunar eclipse.
This won’t be the kind of eclipse that turns the Moon red or takes a dark bite from its edge. Instead, part of the Moon may take on a faint gray cast as it passes through the lighter outer region of Earth’s shadow.
Snow Moon 2027
- Full moon
- February 20
- Exact time
- 6:24 PM EST
- Moonrise
- 5:32 PM
- Look toward
- East-Northeast
When is the Snow Moon?
The Snow Moon is February’s full moon. In 2027, the Moon will reach its full phase on February 20 at 6:23 p.m. EST, or 3:23 p.m. PST. The date will already be February 21 in some time zones farther east.
The exact phase occurs shortly after moonrise in parts of eastern North America, but during daylight farther west. Either way, the Moon will look full throughout the night of February 20 and nearly full on the evening before.
Snow Moon dates by year
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Sat, February 24 |
| 2025 | Wed, February 12 |
| 2026 | Sun, February 1 |
| 2027 | Sat, February 20 |
| 2028 | Thu, February 10 |
| 2029 | Wed, February 28 |
| 2030 | Mon, February 18 |
| 2031 | Fri, February 7 |
| 2032 | Thu, February 26 |
| 2033 | Mon, February 14 |
Times shown in ET
Why is it called the Snow Moon?
Snow Moon is a straightforward seasonal name. February is often a month of persistent snow cover and heavy winter storms across northern parts of North America, even as the days begin to lengthen.
The name describes the season, not anything unusual about the Moon itself. It became the conventional English name for February’s full moon through modern almanacs, but winter calendars naturally differ with local climate and geography.
Other names for February’s Moon
Other names for this period focus on the depth of winter or the animals living through it:
- [Deep Snow Moon](https://www.ias.edu/hs/lunaape-ias-events) (Xwahteewi Koon Niipaahum): A Munsee Lenape name that places the emphasis on deep winter snow. - [Little Bear Moon](https://www.potawatomi.org/wp-content/uploads/December-2020-Hownikan-Digital.pdf) (Mkogisos): A Citizen Potawatomi name associated with the time when bear cubs are born in winter dens.
The 2027 Snow Moon lunar eclipse
A lunar eclipse happens when the full moon passes through Earth’s shadow. During the February 20 event, the Moon enters only the penumbra, the shadow’s faint outer portion, and narrowly misses the much darker umbra.
The penumbral eclipse runs from 4:12–8:13 p.m. EST, or 1:12–5:13 p.m. PST, with greatest eclipse at 6:13 p.m. EST (3:13 p.m. PST). In the Central and Eastern time zones, the later stages may be visible with the Moon low in the east. Farther west, most of the event occurs before moonrise, although some viewers may catch its final portion.
This is a fairly deep penumbral eclipse, but the change will still be subtle. Look for uneven, dusky shading around the time of greatest eclipse; thin clouds or haze may be more noticeable than the shadow itself.