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- December’s full “Cold Moon” will reach its peak illumination on the evening of December 4, 2025.
- The Geminid meteor shower will also be active in December, peaking on the night of December 13-14.
- The name “Cold Moon” is attributed to the Mohawk tribe and reflects the month’s cold temperatures.
December’s aptly named full “Cold Moon” will rise in just a few short days.
November’s full Beaver Moon peaked at 8:19 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5, and was one of several supermoons closing out 2025. We have also had the Harvest Moon and more celestial events over the past few months. Now, the world is gearing up for the final full moon of the year.
Here’s what to know about the finals supermoon on the year and other celestial events closing out 2025.
When is the next full moon? Full moon in December 2025
The full Cold Moon will reach peak illumination on Dec. 4, 6:14 p.m., according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. For the best view, watch just after moonrise, when the moon appears larger near the horizon.
Is there a supermoon in December 2025?
Yes, the third and final supermoon of the year is in December.
What is a supermoon?
A supermoon occurs when a full or new moon falls during the closest point in the moon’s orbit to Earth, according to NASA. The full moon can appear up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter at its closest point in the orbit.
Supermoons generally appear three or four times a year, always consecutively. During 2024, there were four in August, September, October and November. This year, there are four in September, October, November and December.
What is the largest supermoon of the year?
November’s supermoon was the biggest and brightest supermoon of the year, appearing 7.9% bigger and 16% brighter than a regular full moon, according to Star Walk.
Is there a meteor shower in December 2025? When does the Geminid meteor shower peak?
Apart from the supermoon, the Geminid meteor shower will also take place during December. The Old Farmer’s Almanac provides the following information about the shower:
- Meteors/hour: Average of 75
- Active: Nov. 19-Dec. 16
- Peak: Dec. 13-14
The almanac calls the Geminid shower “one of the year’s most active and reliable meteor showers.” Associated meteors can be seen all night as Gemini rises so early, though it is at its highest point for optimal viewing around 2 a.m. The meteor shower is usually in full swing by 9 p.m. as the sun sets so early in December.
Why is December’s full moon called the Cold Moon?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac says that the 12 full moons each year come from names given by Native Americans, according to previous reporting by the Hendersonville Times-News. UNC Asheville Associate Professor of Astronomy Britt Lundren reminded readers that, when sharing the names of the monthly moons, it’s essential to acknowledge the cultural diversity of tribes in the U.S.
“Each tribe has a close relationship with the land, and their moon names will reflect the seasonal changes unique to their environments,” Lundren said.
Some of the yearly moon names are a bit more obvious than others. The Cold Moon, a name attributed to the Mohawk tribe by the Old Farmer’s Almanac, reflects the cold temperatures of the month. Other traditional names include:
- Long Night Moon (Mohican)
- Drift Clearing Moon (Cree)
- Frost Exploding Trees Moon (Cree)
- Moon of the Popping Trees (Oglala)
- Hoar Frost Moon (Cree)
- Snow Moon (Haida, Cherokee)
- Winter Maker Moon (Western Abenaki)
- Moon When the Deer Shed Their Antlers (Dakota)
- Little Spirit Moon (Anishinaabe)
Full moon names 2025
Here’s a list of the full moon names, courtesy of the Old Farmer’s Almanac:
- January – Wolf Moon
- February – Snow Moon
- March – Worm Moon
- April – Pink Moon
- May – Flower Moon
- June – Strawberry Moon
- July – Buck Moon
- August – Sturgeon Moon
- September – Corn Moon (was Harvest Moon in 2024)
- October – Hunter Moon (also the Harvest Moon in 2025)
- November – Beaver Moon
- December – Cold Moon
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
