The December full moon — the Cold Moon — rises on Dec. 4, 2025, at 6:14 p.m., and will be a supermoon, making it appear larger and brighter than usual. Supermoons occur when the Moon is near perigee in its elliptical orbit and can look about 14% larger and up to 30% brighter. Traditional names for this moon reflect winter conditions, and while no special gear is required to view it, binoculars or a telescope will enhance the experience.
December 2025 'Cold Moon' Is a Supermoon — When and How to See It (Dec. 4, 2025)
The December full moon — the Cold Moon — rises on Dec. 4, 2025, at 6:14 p.m., and will be a supermoon, making it appear larger and brighter than usual. Supermoons occur when the Moon is near perigee in its elliptical orbit and can look about 14% larger and up to 30% brighter. Traditional names for this moon reflect winter conditions, and while no special gear is required to view it, binoculars or a telescope will enhance the experience.
04:08 AM, 11/21/2025Science
Get ready for one more striking full moon before the year ends. The December full moon, commonly called the Cold Moon, will rise on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, at 6:14 p.m., according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
This will be the final full moon of 2025 and part of a recent run of supermoons that produced notable moonrises over the past three months. The first full moon of 2026, on Jan. 3, 2026, is also expected to be a supermoon (commonly called the Wolf Moon).
What is a supermoon?
There is no single formal scientific definition of a "supermoon," but museums and astronomers typically describe a supermoon as a full moon that occurs when the Moon is near perigee — its closest point to Earth — making it appear larger and brighter than average. The Natural History Museum notes that such moons can look roughly 14% larger and up to 30% brighter than a typical full moon.
The effect is a result of the Moon's elliptical orbit around Earth. When the Moon is at its farthest point (apogee), observers may notice a slightly smaller "micromoon." When it is at or near perigee during a full phase, we experience a supermoon.
Traditional names and meanings
The name "Cold Moon" comes from seasonal naming traditions that reflect winter conditions. The Old Farmer's Almanac notes the name among Indigenous and historical names used across North America. It explains:
"The Cold Moon is a Mohawk name that conveys the frigid conditions of this time of year when cold weather truly begins to grip us... (it) has also been called the Long Night Moon (Mohican), as it rises during the 'longest' nights of the year, near the December winter solstice."
Other traditional names recorded include:
- 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)
How to view it
You don't need any special equipment to enjoy the full moon — it will be visible to the naked eye. However, binoculars or a small telescope can reveal lunar surface details like craters and maria and make the experience more rewarding. Tim Brothers, technical instructor and observatory manager at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, recommends using a good telescope or solid binoculars for a richer stargazing experience.
For reference, the next full moon (Jan. 3, 2026) will reach peak illumination at 5:03 a.m. and is commonly called the Wolf Moon.