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Last Supermoon Shines Bright This Week!
3 Dec
Summary
- December's full supermoon, known as the cold moon, peaks Thursday evening.
- This is the final supermoon of three consecutive ones this year.
- The cold moon name relates to its proximity to the winter solstice.
This week offers a final celestial treat with December's full supermoon, also called the cold moon. It will reach its peak illumination around 6:14 p.m. ET on Thursday, appearing full on Wednesday and Friday nights as well. This event marks the end of three consecutive supermoons, occurring when the moon is at its closest point to Earth, or perigee.
The moniker "cold moon" highlights its occurrence near the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, which begins on December 21. Indigenous tribes have various names for this moon, including the Cherokee "snow moon" and the Abenaki "winter maker moon." Its brightness can be enhanced in winter due to clearer skies without foliage.
This lunar display coincides with anniversaries of historic Apollo missions and precedes upcoming space endeavors. Apollo 8 launched in December 1968, orbiting the moon, and Apollo 17 in December 1972 was the last crewed lunar landing. NASA's Artemis II mission is anticipated to send astronauts around the moon between February and April 2026.
