'Lunar Standstill' adds unique rise to 2025's final Supermoon

For anyone in Cape Town looking to cap 2025 with one more magical night under the stars (who can forget the Blood Moon earlier this year!?), there's a final Supermoon on the way and it's a good one.

Grab your binoculars, find a clear horizon spot across the Mother City and get ready for nature's final grand bow on Thursday, 4 December, as the last of three supermoons forecast for the close of 2025 adds a special rush of lunar energy for stargazers.  

Look up to see the Springbok Moon

• 4 December – Springbok / Cold Moon: Rises around 7.39 pm SAST. Astronomers forecast that a rare 18.6-year cycle called the "Major Lunar standstill" means this Springbok Supermoon will climb higher than any other full moon this year - and no other moon is expected to reach this "extreme altitude" again until 2042.

Known as the Cold Moon in the Northern Hemisphere and traditionally linked to the arrival of winter, this final supermoon carries a far more local resonance, according to the Centre for Astronomical Heritage (CfAH) - they've nicknamed December’s full Moon as the Springbok Moon, to root it in South Africa’s cultural heritage.  Their lunar naming tradition offers a uniquely Southern African way to mark the celestial calendar - and this one is certainly leaping into the sky this year! 

Time Out Tip: The best way to experience the "Supermoon illusion" is to check the eastern horizon shortly after sunset, when it should glow a luminescent orange. Check your local moonrise times on timeanddate.com - they can vary slightly by location and date. 

Consider spots facing the eastern horizon or picnic-friendly spots with clear visibility. 

• Kloof Corner or Lion’s Head trailhead: if you fancy a short hike for those big views. Don't do this alone! Rally your crew if you are thinking about an evening hike.
• Signal Hill: wide-open skies and city lights below.
• Sea Point Promenade: leisurely stroll, great reflections on the water.
• Bloubergstrand: iconic skyline shots over Table Mountain.

ICYMI: Stellar Blood Moon Rises over Table Mountain Cableway 

What is a Supermoon 

A supermoon occurs when a full moon aligns with the point in the moon’s orbit where it is closest to Earth (called "perigee") rather than farther away (apogee), according to NASA science. Because the Moon is closer, it appears slightly larger and noticeably brighter than a typical full Moon - up to about 14% bigger and 30% brighter. 

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