In Pictures: Wolf supermoon snapped over Scotland

5 days ago

News image — A wintery scene in Banchory, Aberdeenshire, by BBC Weather Watcher Standfree333

BBC Weather Watchers/Standfree333 A yellow moon over snow capped evergreen trees on a grey-blue cloudy sky — A wintery scene in Banchory, Aberdeenshire, by BBC Weather Watcher Standfree333

The first full moon of 2026 has lit up skies across Scotland.

Also known as the Wolf moon, it is the fourth supermoon in a row, following October's Harvest Moon, November's Beaver Moon and the Cold Moon in December.

It is called a supermoon because it looks larger, caused by its elliptical orbit bringing it closer to the Earth at certain times of the year.

The January full moon is often known as the Wolf Moon in the Northern Hemisphere because it marks the time of year when it was believed that wolves howled more, as there was less food around.

There will not be another chance to see a moon so large and bright in the sky until November 2026.

BBC Weather Watchers have been capturing images of the moon as it reached its peak.

John Bogie A close-up picture of a silvery moon with dark patches on a pitch black background — John Bogie took this impressive picture of the supermoon over Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire

A yellow moon on light blue clouds with a pale pink sky. A field down below has groups of sheep grazing bright green grass, with fields divided by stone walls — David Sykes spotted the supermoon from a field in the Isle of Bute

BBC Weather Watchers/TealKat A yellow/pink moon peaks out from behind a dark green hill on a low incline. There is a loch in front of the hill and it is dusk, so the sky is orangey pink — The supermoon peeking out from behind a hill near Carradale, Argyll and Bute. Photo by BBC Weather Watcher TealKat

Sheila Quibell Buildings are partially obscured by trees which sit by a river. In the distance, a hill towers over the village. The sky has pink clouds and a large white moon — Sheila Quibell snapped this picturesque scene with candyfloss skies over Rhu near Helensburgh

BBC Weather Watchers/Freddy A close-up image of a silvery white moon with dark patches showing crevices on a pitch dark sky — Weather Watcher Freddy took this striking close-up from John O'Groats in the Highlands

BBC Weather Watchers/Louise A moon barely pokes out from behind a dark hill. It is getting dark and the sky is a dark purple/pink. A lion rampant Scotland flag waves on a pole in the foreground — Weather Watcher Louise sent in this atmospheric snap from Leven in Fife

BBC Weather Watchers/derekb A yellow moon on a sky which fades from pink to blue with hills and trees down below. — A colourful view of the supermoon, snapped by BBC Weather Watcher derekb from Kirkcowan in Dumfries and Galloway

BBC Weather Watchers/Big Ted A close-up picture of a silvery-yellow moon with dark patches on a pitch black background — A detailed close-up of the moon over Prestwick, South Ayrshire, by BBC Weather Watcher Big Ted

BBC Weather Watchers/MuddyPaws A yellow moon is partially obscured by a purple cloud, with dark tree branches in the foreground — The Wolf supermoon lit up the skies over Macmerry in East Lothian. Photograph by BBC Weather Watcher MuddyPaws

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