The last supermoon of the year will shine bright this week, when it reaches peak illumination at 6:15 p.m. EST, on Dec. 4, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
This full ‘cold moon,’ will be the third and last of the year and is expected to orbit 221,965 miles from Earth. It will appear full on both Wednesday and Friday nights as well. If weather permits, this visual spectacle will make it perfect for catching photos or simply admiring a gorgeous autumnal evening sky.
Due to the optical effect known as the moon illusion, the full moon can seem huge when rising behind distant objects on the horizon. A supermoon appears especially impressive.
What is a supermoon?
When the moon’s orbit brings it closer to Earth than usual, the cosmic combo is called a supermoon. As this happens, the moon can appear slightly bigger and brighter than normal. Supermoons can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year.
Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them.
“Different publications use slightly different thresholds for deciding when a full moon is close enough to the Earth to qualify as a supermoon,” NASA said. “Because the orbit of the moon is not a perfect circle, the moon is sometimes closer to the Earth than at other times during its orbit.”
Why is December’s full moon called the cold moon?
The term cold moon originated from the Mohawk tribe, who named it for the frigid conditions that occur during it. The moon was also called the “long night moon” by the Mohicans, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
When will the next full moon occur?
A full moon typically occurs every 29 days, but because most months are 30 or 31 days, it is sometimes possible for two full moons to occur in the same month.
If you miss this last full supermoon of 2025, you will have three chances to view a supermoon next year.
CONTRIBUTING Doyle Rice
SOURCE NASA, TheSkyLive.com, MoonPhaseToday.org, EarthSky.org and USA TODAY research
This graphic was updated to add new information.
