Cold Moon Supermoon Illuminates Global Skies on Dec. 4

The final supermoon of 2025, known as the Cold Moon, illuminated night skies worldwide on December 4, captivating stargazers with its unusually large and bright appearance. This celestial event, the third in a series for the year, coincided with the moon reaching its closest point to Earth, or perigee, early on December 4, followed by its full phase at 7:14 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Observers from North America to Europe, Asia, and Australia reported stunning views as the moon rose against urban skylines and natural landscapes.

Astronomers explained that supermoons occur when a full moon aligns closely with perigee in the moon's elliptical orbit, making it appear about 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than an average full moon. On December 4, the moon was approximately 222,000 miles from Earth, compared to the typical distance of 239,000 miles. This positioning created dramatic illusions, particularly at moonrise, when the moon seemed especially grand against foreground objects like trees or buildings. "When the moon just rises, it may appear larger against terrestrial scenery," said Kou Wen, a senior engineer at the Beijing Planetarium. "By midnight, when it's high...