We’ve officially made it to the start of a brand new year, and things are looking up! The sky is set to be aglow in the Southern Hemisphere in 2025 with 12 glorious and glowy full moons, plus three extra shiny supermoons.
Here at Time Out Australia, we’re the experts on what’s happening on the ground in our cities, including everything to see and do. But we’re also clued in on what’s happening upstairs in the dark, dark sky. If you slept through last year’s brightest supermoon, then mark these key full moon dates in your celestial calendar.
When is the next full moon in Australia?
The first full moon of 2025, known as the Wolf Moon, is happening in Australia on Tuesday, January 14. The full moon is set to peak at 6.26am in Perth, 7.56am in Darwin, 8.25am in Brisbane, 8.56am in Adelaide, and 9.26am in Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney.
When are the full moons in 2025?
- January 14 – Wolf Moon
- February 13 – Snow Moon
- March 14 – Worm Moon
- April 13 – Pink Moon
- May 13 – Flower Moon
- June 11 – Strawberry Moon
- July 11 – Buck Moon
- August 9 – Sturgeon Moon
- September 8 – Harvest Moon
- October 7 – Hunter’s Moon
- November 6 – Beaver Moon
- December 4 – Cold Moon
You can check the exact moonrise and moonset for your specific location here.
What is the difference between a full moon and a supermoon?
A full moon occurs when the moon and sun are aligned on opposite sides of Earth. This means that 100 per cent of the moon’s face is illuminated by the sun, making it appear really big and luminescent in the sky.
A full moon is dubbed a supermoon when it’s at the closest point to Earth during its orbit. At this time, the moon appears bigger and brighter than usual in the night sky.
When are the supermoons in 2025?
- October 7 - Hunter’s Moon
- November 5 – Beaver Moon
- December 4 – Cold Moon
Why do the full moons have different names?
Each of the 12 full moons has its own special name, which was created by Native American tribes to keep track of the seasons. These poetic names were based on the behaviour of the plants, animals or weather patterns during that particular month.
How to see the full moon in Australia?
You won’t need a telescope to take in the full grandeur of the full moon. So long as there are clear skies, you should easily be able to see it with the naked eye by looking up at the sky. If you want to see it in a bit more detail, you can also use a telescope or binoculars.
When it comes to fully appreciating the full moon, the darker the area you are viewing it from, the better. You can use our handy guide to the best stargazing spots in Australia.