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The third and final supermoon of the year is nearly upon us. In case you’re not aware, a supermoon is like a full moon, but even bigger and brighter. It’s a magnificent sight to behold and, after supermoons in October and November, this month will be your last chance to witness one until December 2026.
This supermoon will sit higher in the sky than the previous two, meaning you won’t necessarily need to have a clear view of the horizon in order to see it in its full glory. So long as the skies are clear, you’ll be able to spot it from even the most built up part of a city.
From the weather forecast to the ideal time to look up, here’s everything you need to know if you want to catch site of the spectacle. Don’t miss out.
What is a supermoon?
The moon orbits around the Earth in a sort of oval shape rather than a perfect circle. So, a supermoon happens when the moon reaches the closest point to the Earth in its orbit and at the same time as a full moon, meaning that it appears much bigger and brighter to us than usual.
Supermoons can appear up to 14 percent larger and 30 percent more luminous than an average moon. An effect known as the ‘moon illusion’ can make it appear particularly huge when it’s close to the horizon.
When is the final super moon of 2025?
December’s super ‘Cold Moon’ (the name comes from native American tradition) will rise in the northeast at 2.48pm on Thursday, December 4. It’ll set at 9am the following morning.
Weather forecast
Unsettled weather means that we may not get the best possible view of the supermoon. The Met Office predicts that the evening of December 4 is likely to see some showers with a high chance of cloud cover, particularly in the west and north.
When will the next supermoon be?
According to Royal Museums Greenwich, the next supermoon to grace the UK’s skies won’t be until Christmas Eve 2026.
The 13 best places to go stargazing in the UK.
ICYMI: When and how to celebrate the winter solstice 2025.
Plus: The long-range UK weather forecast for Christmas 2025 revealed.
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