A supermoon is a rare alignment of the Earth, sun, and moon that occurs when our satellite is at perigee, its point closest to Earth. The term 'supermoon' was coined because the full moon appears larger and brighter than usual due to these unique circumstances.
On December 4th, an astronomical spectacle awaits us - a cold supermoon, which refers to the frigid temperatures typical of this time of year. This event not only marks the last full moon of 2025 but also brings together the conditions of being both a full moon and a supermoon – making it one of the most extraordinary lunar events of the year.
What makes this particular full moon special is its proximity to Earth, with an orbit that brings it closest to our planet. This results in the moon appearing up to 8% larger and shining brightly about 16% brighter than a standard full moon. While the size difference may be negligible for many, the added brightness of this supermoon is undeniable.
The approach of winter solstice on December 21st means that the full moon will be at its highest point in the sky. As EarthSky points out, however, it's not the closest full moon to the solstice but occurs just before the first full moon of 2026, which appears on January 3rd.
For those interested in witnessing this spectacle, the exact timing of the supermoon is scheduled for 6:14 pm ET on Thursday, December 4th. The best viewing conditions are during moonrise when the lunar illusion makes the moon appear larger than usual. With clear weather and a vantage point with an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon, it's an opportunity to marvel at one last spectacular display before the year ends.
On December 4th, an astronomical spectacle awaits us - a cold supermoon, which refers to the frigid temperatures typical of this time of year. This event not only marks the last full moon of 2025 but also brings together the conditions of being both a full moon and a supermoon – making it one of the most extraordinary lunar events of the year.
What makes this particular full moon special is its proximity to Earth, with an orbit that brings it closest to our planet. This results in the moon appearing up to 8% larger and shining brightly about 16% brighter than a standard full moon. While the size difference may be negligible for many, the added brightness of this supermoon is undeniable.
The approach of winter solstice on December 21st means that the full moon will be at its highest point in the sky. As EarthSky points out, however, it's not the closest full moon to the solstice but occurs just before the first full moon of 2026, which appears on January 3rd.
For those interested in witnessing this spectacle, the exact timing of the supermoon is scheduled for 6:14 pm ET on Thursday, December 4th. The best viewing conditions are during moonrise when the lunar illusion makes the moon appear larger than usual. With clear weather and a vantage point with an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon, it's an opportunity to marvel at one last spectacular display before the year ends.
should be a sick night viewin' this thing out in nature gotta check the timing tho 6:14 pm ET, easy peasy but u know the weather forecast is always sketchy hopefully clear skies 
its gonna b so lit when it happens! i mean yeah, its not like its goin2 be a huge diffrence in size or ennything, but cmon, its still gonna be SOOO bright!!! lol did u no that it occurs just bef0re the 1st full moon of 2026? 
what even is lunar illusoin tho?? gotta check it out @ 6:14 pm et on dec 4th!! clear weather & good vantage point r key!! 
... I mean, who needs normal moon phases when you can have a cold one, right? It's not like we're going to get a decent night's sleep or anything because it'll be super bright in the sky. And yay, we get to witness the lunar illusion make our moon appear even bigger than it already is... aka, just another excuse for people to take selfies 
I think this supermoon is gonna be SO lit 
. Plus, with clear weather & a good view of the eastern horizon, we can really appreciate the size difference & brightness... it's gonna be a magical night 
️!
i'm planning to grab some hot cocoa and head out to watch the moon rise with my friends - it's gonna be such a magical moment! 
. the fact that its a cold supermoon makes it even more special, like, who doesn't love a good excuse to cozy up with hot cocoa by the window? 
️ and can you believe its one of the most extraordinary lunar events of the year?! 
and get outside with clear skies for some epic views 
. And don't even get me started on how it's going to affect the Earth's orbit or whatever... sounds like a bunch of hot air to me! 
The only thing that's really "super" about this event is how it's going to break up the monotony of winter blues 
️. But, hey, if you're into that sorta thing, go ahead and get excited for December 4th at 6:14 pm ET... just don't expect me to be out there with my telescope 
anyway, if anyone wants to catch this supermoon, make sure to get outside before 6:14 pm on dec 4th. it's gonna be so cool to see that big bright thing in the sky again 
I swear, December 4th is literally the most epic date for stargazers! The cold supermoon thingy is gonna make it even more mesmerizing because of those chilly temps. Perfect time to cozy up and gaze at the sky. Also, can't believe how close our moon will be to Earth - like, exactly what we need to feel connected to nature right now 