The Snow Moon, February’s full moon, is full at 6:23 p.m. EST (23:23 UTC) on Saturday, February 20, 2027. It brings a penumbral lunar eclipse, which peaks 10 minutes earlier, at 6:13 p.m. EST.
The Snow Moon is the traditional name for the full moon of February. In the United States, the 2027 Snow Moon is full on the evening of Saturday, February 20.
In India and Australia, the same full moon falls on Sunday, February 21. In the eastern United States, the Moon rises just as it passes through Earth’s outer shadow in a penumbral eclipse.
This is the first of three lunar eclipses in 2027. The eastern United States sees most of it, and the West Coast sees none. The 2027 Snow Moon is also the second-closest full moon of the year, at 363,306 km.
This page covers the exact time in every US time zone, eclipse visibility by city, moonrise times, Snow Moon dates from 2026 to 2031, and the origin of the name.
It is the second entry in Datescal’s Full Moon Calendar 2027: Every Full Moon Date, Time and Sign.
Table of Contents
When is the Snow Moon 2027?
The Snow Moon 2027 is full at 23:23 UTC on Saturday, February 20, 2027, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. Moonblink gives the same moment as 23:23:29 UTC.
The table below converts that time to US and international time zones.
| Time zone | Snow Moon 2027 (exact full moon) |
|---|---|
| UTC | Saturday, February 20, 11:23 p.m. |
| US Eastern | Saturday, February 20, 6:23 p.m. EST |
| US Central | Saturday, February 20, 5:23 p.m. CST |
| US Mountain | Saturday, February 20, 4:23 p.m. MST |
| US Pacific | Saturday, February 20, 3:23 p.m. PST |
| Alaska | Saturday, February 20, 2:23 p.m. AKST |
| Hawaii | Saturday, February 20, 1:23 p.m. HST |
| London | Saturday, February 20, 11:23 p.m. GMT |
| India | Sunday, February 21, 4:53 a.m. IST |
| Sydney | Sunday, February 21, 10:23 a.m. AEDT |
The Snow Moon 2027 falls on Saturday, February 20, in the Americas and Europe, but on Sunday, February 21, in India and Australia. The full moon before it is the Wolf Moon on Friday, January 22. The next is the Worm Moon on Monday, March 22.
Snow Moon moonrise times in US cities
Across the United States, the exact moment of full moon comes before or close to moonrise, so the Moon is almost fully lit when it rises on both February 20 and February 21.
The table below gives sunset, moonrise, and the share of the Moon’s disc lit for four US cities, from the Naval Observatory’s rise and set data.
| City | Saturday, February 20: sunset | Saturday, February 20: moonrise (lit) | Sunday, February 21: moonrise (lit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York (EST) | 5:37 p.m. | 5:32 p.m. (100%) | 6:48 p.m. (99%) |
| Chicago (CST) | 5:30 p.m. | 5:28 p.m. (100%) | 6:45 p.m. (99%) |
| Denver (MST) | 5:42 p.m. | 5:44 p.m. (100%) | 6:59 p.m. (99%) |
| Los Angeles (PST) | 5:41 p.m. | 5:46 p.m. (100%) | 6:56 p.m. (99%) |
On Saturday, February 20, the Snow Moon rises within about five minutes of sunset in all four cities. In New York and Chicago, it rises a few minutes before the Sun sets, so for a short time the full Moon and the setting Sun sit on opposite horizons.
The February 20, 2027 penumbral lunar eclipse
The 2027 Snow Moon passes through Earth’s penumbra, the faint outer part of its shadow, which produces a penumbral lunar eclipse.
According to Wikipedia, the penumbral phase begins at 21:12 UTC, the greatest eclipse comes at 23:13 UTC, and the eclipse ends at 01:13 UTC on February 21.
The penumbral magnitude is 0.93. NASA’s eclipse list gives the same time for the greatest eclipse.
The Moon does not enter the dark central part of the shadow, the umbra, so it dims only slightly and does not turn red.
| Stage | UTC | Eastern | Central | Mountain | Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penumbral eclipse begins | 21:12 | 4:12 p.m. | 3:12 p.m. | 2:12 p.m. | 1:12 p.m. |
| Greatest eclipse | 23:13 | 6:13 p.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 4:13 p.m. | 3:13 p.m. |
| Penumbral eclipse ends | 01:13 (Feb 21) | 8:13 p.m. | 7:13 p.m. | 6:13 p.m. | 5:13 p.m. |
Where the eclipse is visible in the United States
According to Wikipedia, the whole eclipse is visible across Africa, Europe, and western, central, and south Asia, while in North and South America it is already underway when the Moon rises.
The table below compares the eclipse stages with local moonrise in four US cities:
| City | Moonrise | What is visible |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 5:32 p.m. EST | Greatest eclipse at 6:13 p.m. with the Moon low in the east, then the rest of the eclipse until 8:13 p.m. |
| Chicago | 5:28 p.m. CST | Only the second half, after the greatest eclipse, until 7:13 p.m. |
| Denver | 5:44 p.m. MST | Only the last 29 minutes, until 6:13 p.m., with the Moon very low |
| Los Angeles | 5:46 p.m. PST | Nothing; the eclipse ends at 5:13 p.m., before moonrise |
In the United States, the East Coast has the best view of the 2027 Snow Moon eclipse, though a penumbral eclipse is subtle even at its peak.
The year’s other two lunar eclipses, on July 18 and August 17, are also penumbral. The August 17 eclipse is fully visible across the Americas.
Snow Moon dates for 2026 to 2031
The Snow Moon falls about 11 days earlier each year, then jumps later in years that fit a 13th full moon. The table below lists the February full moon for each year from 2026 to 2031, from the Naval Observatory’s tables for 2026, 2028, 2029, 2030, and 2031.
| Year | Snow Moon (Eastern Time) | Pacific Time | UTC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday, February 1, 5:09 p.m. EST | Sunday, February 1, 2:09 p.m. PST | Feb 1, 22:09 |
| 2027 | Saturday, February 20, 6:23 p.m. EST | Saturday, February 20, 3:23 p.m. PST | Feb 20, 23:23 |
| 2028 | Thursday, February 10, 10:04 a.m. EST | Thursday, February 10, 7:04 a.m. PST | Feb 10, 15:04 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, February 28, 12:10 p.m. EST | Wednesday, February 28, 9:10 a.m. PST | Feb 28, 17:10 |
| 2030 | Monday, February 18, 1:20 a.m. EST | Sunday, February 17, 10:20 p.m. PST | Feb 18, 06:20 |
| 2031 | Friday, February 7, 7:46 a.m. EST | Friday, February 7, 4:46 a.m. PST | Feb 7, 12:46 |
The 2029 Snow Moon falls on February 28, the last day of the month. The 2030 Snow Moon falls on Sunday, February 17, on the West Coast, but on Monday, February 18, in the East.
February is shorter than the 29.5-day lunar cycle, so it is the only month that can pass without a full moon. That does not happen in any year from 2026 to 2031.
What is the Snow Moon?
The Snow Moon is a traditional name for the full moon of February. Like every full moon, it marks the moment the Moon stands opposite the Sun, 180 degrees away along the ecliptic, so the whole side facing Earth is lit. The name does not reflect any astronomical difference from other full moons.
Where the Snow Moon name comes from
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the name comes from the heavy snowfall typical of February, which the almanac says is the snowiest month in the United States on average.
It cites the explorer Captain Jonathan Carver, who wrote in the 1760s that the name meant “more snow commonly falls during this month than any other in the winter.”
The Maine Farmers’ Almanac began publishing moon names like this in the 1930s. According to Wikipedia, the 1937 edition credited them to “our early English ancestors,” so where the full set of names came from is disputed.
Other names for the February full moon
The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists these other names for the February full moon, with the peoples it attributes them to:
| Name | Attributed to |
|---|---|
| Bald Eagle Moon, Eagle Moon | Cree |
| Bear Moon | Ojibwe |
| Black Bear Moon | Tlingit |
| Raccoon Moon | Dakota |
| Groundhog Moon | Some Algonquin peoples |
| Goose Moon | Haida |
| Bony Moon, Hungry Moon | Cherokee |
The almanac notes that the names Bony Moon and Hungry Moon refer to the scarcity of food at this time of year.
The 2027 Snow Moon’s distance and zodiac sign
According to Moonblink, the 2027 Snow Moon is 363,306 km from Earth at full. That makes it the second-closest full moon of 2027, after the January supermoon at 357,644 km.
At the Snow Moon, the Sun is in Pisces, which it entered at 4:33 p.m. EST on February 18, so the Moon stands opposite it in Virgo. In astrology, this is called the full moon in Virgo.
The sign dates are on Datescal’s Virgo Zodiac Sign Dates 2027 and Pisces Zodiac Sign Dates 2027 pages.
How to see the Snow Moon
You can see the Snow Moon with the naked eye wherever the sky is clear. For the best view in the United States:
- Check your local moonrise time for Saturday, February 20, 2027. In the four cities above, it falls between 5:28 and 5:46 p.m.
- Find a spot with a clear view of the eastern horizon, since the Moon rises around sunset.
- On the East Coast, watch between moonrise and 8:13 p.m. EST to catch the penumbral eclipse.
- If clouds block the view on February 20, the Moon rises 99% lit about an hour later on Sunday, February 21.
What the Snow Moon is not
Several moon terms overlap with the 2027 Snow Moon. The table below sets out the differences.
| Term | What it means | Relation to the 2027 Snow Moon |
|---|---|---|
| Snow Moon | Traditional name for February’s full moon | Saturday, February 20, 2027 |
| Penumbral eclipse | The Moon passes through Earth’s faint outer shadow | Yes; greatest eclipse at 6:13 p.m. EST |
| Blood moon | A full moon turned red during a total lunar eclipse | No; the Moon stays outside the umbra |
| Supermoon | A full moon near the Moon’s closest approach to Earth | No; 2027’s only supermoon is January 22 |
| Lunar New Year | Starts at the new moon, not the full moon | February 6, 2027, two weeks earlier |
Lunar New Year 2027 began two weeks before the Snow Moon, at the February 6 new moon, as explained on Datescal’s Chinese Zodiac Signs and Years: All 12 Animals with Exact Dates (2027).
Frequently asked questions
When is the Snow Moon in 2027?
The Snow Moon in 2027 is on Saturday, February 20, at 6:23 p.m. EST (23:23 UTC), according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. In Pacific Time, it falls at 3:23 p.m. PST. In India and Australia, the same full moon falls on Sunday, February 21. It rises around sunset on February 20 across the United States.
Is there an eclipse during the Snow Moon 2027?
Yes. The February 20, 2027, Snow Moon brings a penumbral lunar eclipse, with greatest eclipse at 6:13 p.m. EST (23:13 UTC). The Moon passes only through Earth’s faint outer shadow, so it dims slightly and does not turn red. In the United States, the East Coast sees the most of it, while Los Angeles sees none.
Why is it called the Snow Moon?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac says February’s full moon is called the Snow Moon because of the heavy snowfall typical of the month. It cites Captain Jonathan Carver, who wrote in the 1760s that more snow falls in this month than in any other winter month. Other February names include the Hungry Moon and the Bear Moon.
Is the 2027 Snow Moon a supermoon?
No. The 2027 Snow Moon is 363,306 km from Earth, the second-closest full moon of the year, but sources list only the January 22 Wolf Moon, at 357,644 km, as a supermoon in 2027. The Snow Moon is still about 42,700 km closer than the farthest full moon of 2027, the July Buck Moon.
When is the Snow Moon in 2028?
The 2028 Snow Moon is on Thursday, February 10, 2028, at 10:04 a.m. EST (15:04 UTC), according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. The 2029 Snow Moon falls on Wednesday, February 28, and the 2030 Snow Moon falls on February 18 in Eastern Time but February 17 in Pacific Time.
What sign is the Snow Moon in 2027?
The 2027 Snow Moon is in Virgo. At full moon, the Moon sits opposite the Sun, and on February 20, 2027, the Sun is in Pisces, which it entered on February 18. In astrology, this is called the full moon in Virgo. The next full moon, the Worm Moon of March 22, is in Libra.
