February’s full Snow Moon reaches peak illumination at 8:53 A.M. EST on Wednesday, February 12. It will be below the horizon at this time, so for the best view of this Moon, look for it starting the night before or later on Wednesday; it will drift above the horizon in the east around sunset and reach its highest point in the sky around midnight. See when the Moon will be visible in your area.

The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not just to the full Moon itself.

The explanation behind February’s full Moon name is a fairly obvious one, it’s known as the Snow Moon due to the typically heavy snowfall that occurs in February. On average, February is the United States’ snowiest month, according to data from the National Weather Service. 

The second full moon of 2025, February’s Snow Moon, will appear on the eastern horizon in a blaze of orange this week. But there’s a bonus reason to watch the full moon rise a little higher into the sky this month: its regal companion.

The moon will be officially full at 8:53 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Feb. 12 and will be best seen at dusk at the moment of moonrise where you are. It will be in the constellation Leo, hanging above the brightest star Regulus (Heart of the Lion). The moon will also appear bright and full on Feb. 11 and 13.