Tonight is the first full moon of 2025, a treat for anyone willing to brave the cold and look toward the sky. The moon will reach peak illumination — when it’s at its brightest, and directly opposite the sun — just before 5:30 p.m. It’ll appear full for about three days, according to NASA.

You may hear the January full moon referred to as the “Wolf Moon,” which is the term given to it by the Maine Farmers’ Almanac in the 1930s, according to NASA.

The name refers to the packs of wolves that would be heard howling outside villages this time of year, according to NASA. The Wolf Moon is also know as the Ice Moon or the Moon after Yule.

Mars is also appearing as a bright star in the night sky this month. Monday night, as the moon rises, Mars will appear to disappear behind it around 9:15 p.m. and reappear around 10:30 p.m.

There’s nothing significant about the full moon tonight, from an astronomical sense. It’s not going to appear larger like a “supermoon.” However, because the sky is darker for longer periods of the time during winter, there’s ample opportunity to go out and gaze at the sky.

If you want to bask in the glow of the moonlight, Monday looks like your best chance to do so, even though it is forecast to be cloudy this afternoon. The sky tonight will be mostly clear in the Baltimore region, according to the National Weather Service, with clouds appearing Tuesday and Tuesday night.

The temperature is forecast to be below freezing tonight, so don’t forget a hat and multiple layers if you go outside.

More to see in the sky

There’s more to look forward to after the Wolf Moon. Later in the week, stargazers will be able to see Venus and Saturn almost touch in the sky. The two planets will be separated by just a couple of finger widths, according to NASA, on Jan. 17 and 18.

This month’s new moon will be on Jan. 29. The new moon, when the moon is not visible in the sky, is the best time to observe fainter celestial objects, since the moonlight doesn’t interfere.

And later in the year, a total lunar eclipse is coming. A total lunar eclipse is when the moon passes into the Earth’s shadow and is lit dimly by sunlight.

Because of how light scatters, colors like orange and red are all that remain visible, and the moon takes on a rusty or even bloody color during total lunar eclipses.

The total lunar eclipse will be visible in the Baltimore region early in the morning of March 14 — from 2:26 a.m. to 3:31 a.m.