By Alexander Merz · Published on · Details checked on 14 September 2026
The next full moon in February falls on Sunday, February 21, 2027 at 00:23 CET.
Name: Snow Moon – after the snowiest month of the year
Still 151 days to go.
Here you will find the exact date of the full moon in February – with the time for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the traditional name of the month’s full moon and the dates for the coming years.
And if you want to see the Moon closer than with the naked eye: our buying guide for beginners explains which telescope makes sense to start with, what budget to plan for and which classic mistakes to avoid.
How the February full moon sits in the sky
In February too the full moon still stands very high in the sky and stays above the horizon for a long time. Over snow, full moon nights become so bright that you can manage without a torch.
Snow Moon – where the name comes from
The Snow Moon is named after the month that brings the heaviest snowfall across large parts of North America. Some traditions also call it the Hunger Moon, because supplies were running low in February and hunting in deep snow was difficult. The old German name Hornung is linguistically disputed; most likely it refers to the ‘horned’ month, that is, the one that turned out too short.
Almost all the full moon names in common use today come from North America and were popularised by US almanacs. German-speaking Europe had its own names for the months: February was called Hornung or Taumond, the thaw moon. Both traditions mean the same thing – an attempt to tie the course of the year to what is actually happening outdoors.
What else is going on in the February sky
In February the winter sky still stands high in the evening: Orion, Taurus and Gemini are easy to see. There are no major meteor showers, but on moonless evenings little gets in the way of a look at the winter Milky Way.
Full moon in February: the dates for the coming years
| Year | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Saturday, February 24 | 13:30 CET |
| 2025 | Wednesday, February 12 | 14:53 CET |
| 2026 | Sunday, February 1 | 23:09 CET |
| 2027 | Sunday, February 21 | 00:23 CET |
| 2028 | Thursday, February 10 | 16:03 CET |
| 2029 | Wednesday, February 28 | 18:10 CET |
| 2030 | Monday, February 18 | 07:19 CET |
| 2031 | Friday, February 7 | 13:46 CET |
The interval from one full moon to the next averages 29 days, 12 hours and 44 minutes. Because our calendar months are longer, the date moves forward year by year – which is why the full moon in February never falls on the same date. All the coming dates are listed in the full moon calendar, and our page about the Moon explains how the phases come about.
The dates that are actually worth it are often months apart – and easily forgotten. So you do not miss one:
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Observing the full moon – an honest note
As beautiful as the full moon is to the naked eye, in a telescope it is at its least interesting in exactly this phase. Because the Sun shines straight down onto the lunar surface, the shadows are missing and craters look flat. You see considerably more a few days before or after full moon along the day-night boundary, the so-called terminator. If you do want to look at the full moon through a telescope, you should use a moon filter – without one it is uncomfortably glaring. More on this in our buying guide to moon observation.
Against the glare: the February full moon stands high and is dazzling: Omegon Premium Moon Filter 1.25″
Dims the harsh moonlight, is easy on the eyes and brings out far more contrast and detail – our best-selling filter and the number-one pick to start with.
Price: € 19.90
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