December's 'Cold Supermoon' — When to See the Full Moon (Dec. 4, 2025)

When Is the Next Full Moon?

The next full Moon falls on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. That evening the Moon will rise at about 3:58 p.m. EST and will be well-placed for viewing after sunset.

Moon phases for the final lunar cycle of 2025

• Full Moon: Dec. 4 — official full phase at 8:19 a.m. EST
• Third Quarter: Dec. 11, 3:52 a.m. EST
• New Moon: Dec. 19, 8:43 a.m. EST
• First Quarter: Dec. 27, 2:10 a.m. EST

How and when to watch

Although the astronomical moment of exact fullness is listed at 8:19 a.m. EST, you don't need to be watching at that instant to enjoy a full Moon. Because of lunar libration the Moon can appear fully illuminated for a day on either side of the official peak. For the best view on Dec. 4, face south any time after roughly 5 p.m. EST. It will be high in the southern sky shortly after midnight and will set in the northwest at about 7 a.m. EST, so early commuters may still glimpse it before it fades toward dawn.

Why this is a Supermoon

December's full Moon is a Supermoon — the third consecutive supermoon in 2025. "Supermoon" (astronomically a perigee-syzygy) refers to a full Moon that occurs when the Moon is closer to Earth than average. For context, this year's distances for recent full Moons were roughly:

• October: ~224,600 miles
• November: ~221,817 miles
• Dec. 4: ~221,965 miles

Because of that proximity, a supermoon can appear up to about 7% larger than an average full Moon. By contrast, a micromoon (a distant full Moon) can look noticeably smaller; there can be roughly a 15% difference in apparent size between a micromoon and a supermoon.

Quick orbital glossary

Perigee — the point in the Moon's orbit when it is closest to Earth.

Apogee — the point in the Moon's orbit when it is farthest from Earth.

Syzygy — an alignment of three or more celestial bodies, such as the Sun, Earth, and Moon.

Cultural and seasonal notes

Traditional names for December's lunar cycle reflect the season. In the Northern Hemisphere these names often call to mind winter's cold and snow. For example:

• Cold Moon — Mohawk
• Snow Moon — Haida, Cherokee
• Drift Clearing Moon / Hoarfrost Moon / Frost Exploding Trees Moon — Cree
• Moon When the Deer Shed Their Antlers — Dakota
• Long Nights Moon — Mohican

These names embody regional experiences of winter and the practical importance of lunar timing for seasonal life.

Winter Solstice and holidays

The Winter Solstice — the shortest day and longest night of the year — falls this year on Dec. 21. That same night is a New Moon, meaning the solstice night will be especially dark in the absence of lunar light. Across cultures, midwinter has been a time for gatherings and light-focused traditions, from Yuletide and Yule logs to modern holiday lights and caroling.

Enjoy safe moonwatching and warm holidays. Clear skies!

Credit: NASA/JPL