Almost full moon (96% phase) photographed on January 4-5, 2026.
The first full moon of 2026 is traditionally known as the Wolf Moon. Its name dates back to Native American and European traditions, inspired by the hungry wolf packs that would howl outside settlements during the deep, frozen nights of January.
Capturing this was a battle on several fronts. The temperature dropped to -10°C, and the atmospheric seeing was poor as an incoming turbulent front made the lunar surface “boil” through the lens. But the greatest challenge wasn’t the weather. That night in Kyiv was marked by drone explosions and missile alerts. Shooting between the sirens and the echoes of explosions, I managed to stay focused on the sky, completing the session exactly as I had envisioned.
To extract maximum detail through the unstable, freezing air, I used a dual-camera setup, stacking and processing the data (50gb) into this final high-resolution image (91 megapixel). To me, this shot represents more than just a celestial event; it’s a moment of absolute clarity and beauty captured during a night of earthly chaos.