Wolf Moon – Spectacular photos show the first full moon of 2022 lighting up the night sky

BRITAIN’s skies will be illuminated by a Wolf Moon tonight as stargazers are treated to spectacular sights.

The annual lunar phenomenon – which occurs every January – will be visible throughout the evening as stunning photos capture the moon’s visibility across the country.  

A giant wolf moon has been illuminating Britain’s skies throughout the day

The bright star lit up behind Big Ben

Earlier in the day it appeared next to St Paul’s Cathedral

The Shard was another famous monument to be graced by the moon’s natural light

Away from the capital, the Wolf moon emerged over Stonehenge

Eager stargazers were treated to a full view as it emerged over Glastonbury’s St Michael’s Tower

Even as day broke, the moon loomed large in Derbyshire

Amazing snaps caught the first full moon of 2022 this morning as it rose over city monuments including St Paul’s Cathedral and The Shard.

Meanwhile, hikers were able to see the moon in all its glory as it appeared over the likes of Stonehenge and Glastonbury’s St Michael’s Tower.

And this evening stargazers have been urged to get out to see the lunar spectacle when visibility is said to be at its best.

The rare Wolf Moon also be at its largest during the night but will continue to look big tomorrow.

A Super Moon is a combination of two different astronomical effects.

It’s when a new or full Moon coincides with a perigee – the Moon’s closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit.

A Moon has to come within 90% of its closest approach to Earth to be formally defined as a Super Moon.

That means the Moon needs to come within 224,865 miles of Earth and be a full Moon to boot.

The name Full Wolf Moon is associated with early Native American tribes.

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The group are said to have observed hungry wolves howling outside their camps around the same time of year as this phenomenon.

The lunar event is also referred to as the Moon After Yule and the Old Moon.

The annual moon was captured rising above a wolf statue in Hunstanton, Norfolk

It reportedly appears larger in certain places and at certain times

A cable car passes in front of the moon as it crosses the River Thames

Meanwhile, a plane flies past the huge moon in West London

How to spot the Full Wolf Moon

To spot the Wolf Moon at its fullest you should look for it again this evening. (January 17).

If there’s no clouds, it should be visible in an easterly direction from the afternoon but will be more visible after sunset when it gets dark.

In the UK you should look around 7pm because as it gets higher it will appear smaller.

The Wolf Moon will then reportedly peak at 11.48pm.

Issuing advice for stargazers in his full moon guide for January and February, NASA’s Gordon Johnston urged stargazers to see the phenomenon when can.

“Stay warm, but when the sky is clear, take advantage of these early nightfall’s and late sunrises to get out, look up, and share the wonders of the sky,” he said.