Full Moon February 2023: The Full Snow Moon
Mark your calendars for the next February 2023 Full Moon! The next February full moon is Sunday February 5, 2023 1:29 PM EST or 6:29 PM UTC based on the data provided by NASA. It will be the second full moon on the 2023 full moon schedule.
A full moon occurs when the Earth is directly between the Sun and Moon so that the moon looks completely illuminated when you look at it. It happens about once a month or, 29.53 days on average.
Since February has 28 days and 29 days in a leap year, it’s not possible for February to have a blue moon. And on occasion, it doesn’t have a full moon at all, called a black moon. This happens when there are blue moons in both January and March.
Ready to dive a little deeper into the February 2023 Full Moon? Learn more about the moon’s nicknames and other facts about it.
The dates and times provided by NASA in the United States Eastern Time (ET) account for both Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) for part of the year in the United States. Also below is the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) time. This was previously referred to as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Since you may be in a different time zone, the exact dates may shift slightly for your calendar.
When is the full moon in February 2023?
The full moon in February will be on Sunday February 5, 2023 1:29 PM EST or 6:29 PM UTC. The February 5th full moon will be the second full moon of 2023 and the full moon in Leo.
What is the name of the February 2023 Full Moon?
The February full moon is commonly referred to as the Full Snow Moon, named for the usually frequent snow that occurs at that time of the year. It’s a fitting name for a moon that’s part of the Winter season.
Other nicknames for the February full moon include the Hunger Moon, Chaste Moon, and Storm Moon. The February Full Moon Name is also an alternate nickname for the January 2023 Full Moon is also the Full Snow Moon. Sometimes the names overlap depending on the source.
Which season includes the February Full Moon?
In 2023, the February Full Moon will be the second full moon of the winter 2022-2023 season. It will be the second full moon after the Winter Solstice in 2022.
The Winter Solstice marks the first day of winter and is the shortest day of the year when the Earth is tilted as far away from the sun as it will be all year.
In 2022, the Winter Solstice will be Wednesday December 21, 2022 4:48 PM ET or 9:48 PM UTC.
When is the new moon for the 2023 Full Snow Moon?
The lunar cycle for the February Full Moon will begin with its new moon in January 2023. The New Cold Moon will be on Saturday January 21, 2023 3:53 PM EST or 8:53 PM UTC and will be in the new moon in Aquarius. It will also be a supermoon.
The new moon that will occur in February 2023 will be the start of the lunar cycle of the March full moon.
Will there be a full supermoon in February 2023?
No, the full moon in February 2023 will not be a full supermoon as it will be more than 360,000 kilometers away during the peak of the full moon. The year will have 2 supermoons in August and 2 additional full supermoons depending on the definition you use.
A full supermoon is a full moon that nearly coincides with the closest point that the Moon comes to the Earth in its orbit, called perigee. The moon has a larger-than-usual appearance when you look at it. There isn’t an official definition for how close the moon must be to the Earth to be considered a supermoon. Depending on the version you use, the moon needs to be approximately 360,000 kilometers from the Earth or closer.
Will there be a lunar eclipse during the February Full Moon?
No there will not be a lunar eclipse during the full moon in February 2023. In the future, there will be an eclipse during the first full moon of the year.
In 2023 there will be two lunar eclipses during the year. The May Full Moon will have a penumbral lunar eclipse and there will be a partial lunar eclipse during the October Full Moon.
February 2023 Moon Phases in Eastern Time and UTC
Below are the lunar phases for February 2023 including the new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter that are on the schedule for each month. The date and times are based on both the United States Eastern Time Zone and UTC, adjusted for daylight saving time.
| Lunar Phase | Eastern Date & Time (US) | UTC Date & Time |
|---|---|---|
| February Full Moon | February 5, 2023 1:29 PM EST | February 5, 2023 6:29 PM UTC |
| February Last Quarter | February 13, 2023 11:01 AM EST | February 13, 2023 4:01 PM UTC |
| February New Moon | February 20, 2023 2:06 AM EST | February 20, 2023 7:06 AM UTC |
| February First Quarter | February 27, 2023 3:06 AM EST | February 27, 2023 8:06 AM UTC |
Future February Full Moons
Wondering about February in the future and when the full snow moons will occur? Here’s a list for the next few years.
| Year | Day of the week | Future February Full Moons |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Sunday | February 5, 2023 1:29 PM EST |
| 2024 | Saturday | February 24, 2024 7:30 AM EST |
| 2025 | Wednesday | February 12, 2025 8:53 AM EST |
| 2026 | Sunday | February 1, 2026 5:09 PM EST |
| 2027 | Saturday | February 20, 2027 6:23 PM EST |
| 2028 | Thursday | February 10, 2028 10:04 AM EST |
| 2029 | Wednesday | February 28, 2029 12:10 PM ET |
Past February Full Moons
And what about the past? Here is when the full moon occurred in the past for February.
In 2018, there was not a full moon because there were blue moon months in January 2018 and March 2018. This is referred to as a Black Moon.
| Year | Day of the week | Past February Full Moons |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Wednesday | February 16, 2022 11:57 AM EST |
| 2021 | Saturday | February 27, 2021 3:17 AM EST |
| 2020 | Sunday | February 9, 2020 2:33 AM EST |
| 2019 | Tuesday | February 19, 2019 10:53 AM EST |
| 2018 | NONE! A Black Moon | |
| 2017 | Friday | February 10, 2017 7:33 PM EST |
Frequently Asked Questions
Have additional questions about the February Full Moons? Here are a few of the frequently asked questions to help you.
February 2023 will have one full moon, on Sunday February 5, 2023 at 1:29 PM EST or 6:29 PM UTC. It will be called the Full Snow Moon and will be the full moon in Leo.
The February 2022 Full Moon was on Wednesday February 16, 2022 11:57 AM EST or 4:57 PM UTC. This will be the second full moon of the Winter 2021-2022 season as the December 2021 full moon occurred before the Winter Solstice the previous month.
The February 2021 Full Moon was on Saturday February 27, 2021 3:17 AM EST or 8:17 AM UTC. This will be the third full moon of the Winter 2020-2021 season as the December 2020 full moon occurred after the Winter Solstice the previous month.
The February 2020 Full Moon was on Sunday February 9, 2020 2:33 AM EST or 7:33 AM UTC. It was the second full moon of the Winter 2020-2021 season because the December 2019 full moon occurred before the Winter Solstice in 2019.
And if you’re looking for when the full moon occurs for the rest of the year, check out these future full moon calendars.
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