MANILA, Philippines โ Sky watchers, bundle up. The last full moon of the year is set to glow brighter and appear slightly bigger as Decemberโs Cold Moon rises on Thursday night, coinciding with the moonโs approach to perigee โ the closest point in its orbit around Earth.
The moon reaches peak illumination at 6:14 p.m. EST (7:14 a.m. Friday, Manila time), but viewers will enjoy its brilliance for several nights. Expect its most dramatic appearance just after moonrise, when it sits low on the horizon and naturally looks larger.
This monthโs event is the third supermoon of 2025, following another close pass in November. A supermoon occurs when a full moon aligns with perigee, making the lunar disk appear slightly larger and brighter than usual. On December 4, the moon will be about 17,000 miles closer to Earth than its average distance of 238,855 miles.
Decemberโs full moon carries several names rooted in winter traditions. The Cold Moon marks the arrival of Arctic air and long, frigid nights. It is also known as the Winter Maker Moon, Long Night Moon, Moon of the Popping Trees, and Little Spirit Moon โ all pointing to the seasonโs chill and extended darkness.
After Cold Moon, Whatโs next in 2026?
The first full moon of 2026 โ the Wolf Moon โ rises on January 3.
It wonโt be a supermoon.
But it will occur just two days after perigee, giving it a slightly larger, brighter glow than most full moons next year.
Next supermoons
Like in 2025, supermoons will cluster at the end of 2026.
Expect supermoons in October 2026, November 2026, and December 2026.
When will a supermoon be this close again?
The next comparable close approach will happen in November 2026, when that yearโs second supermoon swings near a similar distance to Earth as Decemberโs.
So if you miss this weekโs lunar show, youโll have to wait almost a year to see another supermoon this close.
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