Captivating Astronomical Event: The "Cold Moon" Arrives Thursday Evening as the Last Supermoon of 2025

The skies of Thursday evening, December 4th, are preparing to host an exceptional astronomical event: the appearance of the last supermoon of 2025, known as the "Cold Moon." This phenomenon is a unique blend of scientific precision and mesmerizing visual beauty.

This full moon is categorized as a "supermoon," meaning it will appear noticeably larger in size and brighter than usual. This distinction arises because the Moon reaches perigee (its closest point to Earth) within its monthly orbit. As a result of this proximity, the Moon will look approximately 10% larger than regular full moons.

On this night, the Cold Moon will appear at a remarkable elevation in the winter sky. Its apparent size and clarity will be further enhanced by an optical effect known as the "Moon Illusion." This illusion occurs when the Moon's size is compared to familiar terrestrial objects on the horizon, such as trees, houses, and mountains, intensifying the viewer's perception of its enormous size.

The name "Cold Moon" originates from the traditions of Native American tribes, who often named full moons after seasonal and environmental events. This specific name reflects the cold weather and low temperatures prevalent during this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere.

This moon marks the conclusion of the full moon phenomena for 2025. It will be followed by the first full moon of the new year, 2026, which is named the "Wolf Moon," set to appear in the night sky on January 3rd.