The last supermoon of 2025 will be visible this week around the world. The phenomenon reaches peak illumination on Thursday, December 4, at 6:15 pm Eastern Standard Time (ET), equivalent to 8:15 pm Brasília time. Conhecida as a cold moon, it marks the third and final event of its kind this year.
Lua will be around 357,000 kilometers from Terra, a distance that makes it up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a regular full moon. The spectacle can be seen with the naked eye on Wednesday and Friday nights, as long as the weather conditions are favorable.
When and where to observe the supermoon
The exact moment of full moon occurs on Thursday, December 4th. Lua will appear completely full from Wednesday night through Saturday morning across much of the planet.
- Best time to observe: just after sunset, when Lua rises on the eastern horizon
- Magnified visual effect: Moon illusion makes the disk appear even larger near buildings or trees
- Global visibility: the phenomenon will be seen on all continents, except polar regions with permanent night
Characteristics of the cold supermoon
The minimum lunar orbit distance varies with each cycle. Nesta occurrence, Lua will be close to perigee, the closest point to Terra.
NASA explains that different criteria define what a supermoon is. Algumas sources consider the phenomenon when the distance is below 360 thousand kilometers.
The extra brightness results from the proximity combined with the full phase. The difference can reach 30% compared to the micromoon, which occurs at its apogee.
Origin of traditional names
December’s full moon is named after North American Indians. The Mohawk tribe calls it the cold moon because it coincides with the beginning of the harsh winter in the northern hemisphere.
Other names include the long night moon, used by the Mohicanos. The term reflects the longer nights near the winter solstice.
Names vary among different native peoples. Algumas tribes also call it the oak moon or ice moon.
Upcoming supermoons on the calendar
The year 2026 will have three supermoons. The first will take place in January, followed by two others throughout the year.
Full moons happen every 29.5 days on average. Therefore, some months register two full phases, a phenomenon known as a blue moon.
Tips for observation and photography
The best time for photos occurs when Lua is low on the horizon. Proximity to terrestrial objects creates scale reference.
No special equipment is needed to observe. Binóculos or simple telescopes reveal more details of the lunar surface.
The supermoon appears larger in the first few minutes after rising. The optical phenomenon known as the lunar illusion amplifies the perception of size.
Astronomy applications help locate the exact birth point of Lua. Eles indicate precise time according to geographic location.
Phenomenon ends 2025 sequence
This event marks the end of the current year’s supermoons. Três occurred previously, on dates distributed throughout 2025.
The combination of orbital proximity and full phase makes each supermoon unique. Distance variation creates subtle differences in size and brightness between events.
The complete lunar cycle takes about 27 days to return to the same point. Já the phase cycle takes 29.5 days, generating the observable monthly variations.
