As the year 2025 draws to a close, the moon continues to captivate skywatchers, communities, and even entrepreneurs across the United States. From the dramatic rise of the Cold Moon Supermoon over Arizona’s iconic landscapes to bustling markets in Louisiana timed with lunar cycles, the moon’s phases are shaping experiences both celestial and earthly.
On December 4, 2025, Arizona residents were treated to one of the most breathtaking sky events of the year: the Cold Moon Supermoon. According to the Action Network’s Supermoon Visibility Index, Arizona was ranked second in the nation—just behind New Mexico—for the best chance to see this last supermoon of 2025 with exceptional clarity. The index, which analyzed factors like sky clarity, humidity, elevation, and darkness, found that Arizona’s unique environmental conditions make it a prime location for lunar observation. “Arizona’s desert atmosphere gives the Cold Moon incredible clarity,” an Action Network researcher explained. “With dry air, big horizons, and vast dark-sky regions, the moonrise here feels especially vivid—and the odds of seeing it clearly are among the very best in the country.”
The December full moon, traditionally known as the Cold Moon, marks the arrival of winter and the longest nights of the year. Many Indigenous traditions have named this moon for its association with frost, snow, and the stillness of early winter. This year’s Cold Moon was especially significant, not only because it was a supermoon—when the moon is at one of its closest points to Earth, appearing larger and brighter—but also because it completed a rare three-supermoon sequence to end the year. Skywatchers across Arizona flocked to scenic spots like Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, the Flagstaff Dark Sky Region, Saguaro National Park, the Superstition Mountains, and the outskirts of Phoenix and Tucson to witness the event. Peak illumination occurred around 5:14 p.m. MST, and those who chose open horizons away from city lights were rewarded with a spectacular view.
Arizona’s high ranking wasn’t just a fluke. The state’s dry desert air reduces haze, frequent clear nights in early winter provide consistent viewing opportunities, and low humidity sharpens the moon’s detail. Perhaps most importantly, Arizona boasts extensive dark-sky zones protected from light pollution, making the moon appear crisp and beautifully defined. These advantages placed Arizona just behind New Mexico, but ahead of Colorado, Nevada, and Wyoming in the nation’s top five states for moon viewing in 2025.
Just a few days later, on December 8, 2025, the moon entered its waning gibbous phase. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation, about 83% of the moon’s surface was illuminated that night. The waning gibbous phase, which follows the full moon, is a time when the moon’s visible surface gradually shrinks as it moves toward the new moon. For those gazing up at the sky, features such as Mare Tranquillitatis, Tycho Crater, and Copernicus Crater were easily visible to the naked eye. Binoculars or a telescope revealed even more detail, including the Gassendi Crater, Endymion Crater, the Alps Mountains, the Apollo 16 landing spot, Rima Ariadaeus, and the Linne Crater. The lunar cycle itself lasts about 29.5 days, with the next full moon scheduled for January 3, 2026.
The moon’s influence extended far beyond Arizona’s deserts. In Buellton, California, a full moon was observed and photographed on December 8, 2025, as reported by Noozhawk. These images served as a reminder of the moon’s universal appeal—visible to anyone willing to look up, regardless of location.
But the moon’s impact isn’t limited to the skies. In Plaquemine, Louisiana, the Full Moon Market was gearing up to celebrate its one-year anniversary on December 10, 2025. Created by Ashlee Bergeron, the monthly event is held during the week of the full moon and brings together a diverse group of vendors from Plaquemine, Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, and New Orleans. “This is about helping people believe in themselves,” Bergeron shared, reflecting on the market’s mission to empower local entrepreneurs and celebrate the area’s culture and diversity. The market supports everyone from single parents and students to retirees, offering a space where “all generations and all walks of life” can come together.
The Full Moon Market has become more than just a place to buy and sell goods; it’s a celebration of community resilience and creativity. Bergeron emphasized the importance of the human element, noting, “Some are young and others are old, and some are from Plaquemine and others are from as far as New Orleans. It’s a small, beautiful group of people working from their backyards and believing they can be something bigger.” The event has inspired visitors from other towns to consider starting similar markets, highlighting its potential to spark broader community growth. The 2026 schedule for the Full Moon Market is already set, with events planned nearly every month, each running from 6 to 9 p.m.
Meanwhile, the moon’s phases continued to spark curiosity and introspection. As reported by VICE, the waning gibbous moon on December 8, 2025, carried about 81% illumination and was in the zodiac sign of Leo—a fire sign associated with passion, confidence, and loyalty. Astrological interpretations suggested that this phase is a time to release control and accept change. “Now is a great time to release your control and surrender to your current circumstances,” VICE noted, encouraging readers to rest, reflect, and let go of anything that’s no longer serving them.
NASA further explained that as the moon moves through its waning gibbous phase, it rises later and later each night, with its illuminated side appearing to shrink from our perspective. The lunar cycle, which lasts about 29.5 days, consists of eight distinct phases: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent. Each phase offers unique opportunities for observation, whether it’s marveling at the moon’s changing shape or using a telescope to spot craters and landing sites from historic missions.
The end of 2025 has proven that the moon remains a source of wonder and inspiration for communities across the country. Whether it’s drawing crowds to Arizona’s dark skies, sparking new traditions in Louisiana, or simply providing a moment of quiet reflection, the moon’s phases continue to connect people to the rhythms of nature and to each other.
