Tomorrow night, the moon will go all out for its final big moment of 2025: the cold supermoon. Not only is it the last supermoon of the year, but it’s also the highest full moon of the season and maybe the one most likely to lure you outside, despite, well, the “cold” part.
Here’s your guide to catching the show:
What is the cold supermoon?
December’s full moon has long been called the cold moon, a nod to the frostier weather that usually arrives with it. This year, it’s also a supermoon, meaning the moon hits its full phase while sitting unusually close to Earth in its orbit. This makes it appear brighter and slightly larger—that’s up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the faintest full moon of the year, according to NASA.
It’s also the last of a three-moon streak, following supermoons in October and November.
When is the best time to see the cold supermoon?
Timing is on your side tomorrow evening. The moon reaches peak illumination at 6:14pm Eastern time on Thursday, December 4, just after sunset in most places.
While you’ll get a great view all night, the prime moment is moonrise when the so-called “moon illusion” kicks in. It’s a strange visual trick that makes the moon look comically huge as it hovers near the horizon. No one fully knows why this happens, which somehow makes it even better.
Cloud cover could be an issue in parts of the Northwest, Northern plains and Southeast, according to early forecasts, but a vast stretch from the Southwest to the Northeast appears to have the clearest skies.
How to see the cold supermoon
The good news is that you don’t need a telescope, a tripod or a graduate degree in astrophysics. Just step outside and look east.
The best way to see the magic: find an open view of the horizon. A hilltop, rooftop or even a wide field will let you catch the moon illusion at its most dramatic. Then, bundle up. Much of the country will dip below 40 degrees—very on-brand for the cold moon.
Also, go early. The moon may look full the night before and after, but tomorrow is the real deal. As the moon rises, you might see a warm yellow or orange tint thanks to the longer path its light takes through the atmosphere.
The cold supermoon also shares the sky with the first night of the Geminid meteor shower, which begins on December 4. You’ll spot fewer meteors under a bright moon, but keep an eye out—it's still one of the best shows of the year.
If you miss it, January brings another supermoon, so the cosmos won’t leave you hanging for long.