Upcoming Cold Moon Supermoon
The final supermoon of 2025, referred to as the cold moon, is set to occur on Thursday night, and it will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere.
This Thursday night, December 4th, is expected to be quite special as we observe the last supermoon of the year. This moon, named the ‘cold moon,’ will actually rise higher in the sky than any other full moon this year, thanks to a rare 18.6-year cycle called the “Great Moon Stasis,” according to a source known as Great Planet.
The same page further notes that this moon “won’t appear at such an extreme altitude again until 2042.”
The “Cold Moon,” also known as the Long Night Moon or the pre-Yule moon, signifies the onset of winter and colder conditions in the Northern Hemisphere.
This year marks the third consecutive supermoon, following those in October and November. A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth during its orbit, making it appear larger and brighter than usual.
Observation times for the cold moon on Thursday night and early Friday morning include:
- Peak illuminance: 23:14 UTC
- New York: 6:14 PM (December 4)
- Rio: 8:14 PM (December 4)
- London: 11:14 PM (December 4)
- Berlin: 12:14 AM (December 5)
- Istanbul: 2:14 AM (December 5)
- New Delhi: 4:44 AM (December 5)
The best views of the cold moon are typically as it rises over the eastern horizon just after sunset. During this time, the ‘moon illusion’ can make it look particularly large and golden-orange.
The cold moon is visible to the naked eye, but using binoculars or a telescope can reveal more details, like craters and maria on the moon’s surface.
Looking ahead, the next supermoon after the Cold Moon will be the Wolf Moon, occurring on January 3, 2026, marking the first full moon of the new year.
