As the calendar edges toward the close of 2025, skywatchers from Upstate New York to Australia are preparing for a celestial spectacle that promises to be both dazzling and poignant: the Cold Moon, the final full moon and supermoon of the year. This luminous event will reach its peak on Thursday night, December 4, 2025, but its grandeur will be visible for several nights, offering a rare moment of natural wonder as winter (or, for some, summer) settles in.
In Upstate New York, anticipation is building for the Cold Moon’s arrival. According to WGNA.com, the December full moon is always a standout, and this year is no exception. As winter tightens its grip, the moon’s light appears even brighter, reflecting off long nights and crisp air. The Cold Moon gets its evocative name from the season itself—a tradition that harks back to generations who marked the passage of time by watching the lunar cycle. For them, the December moon was a clear sign that winter had officially arrived.
Forecasts suggest that many areas in Upstate New York may catch breaks in the cloud cover on Thursday night, providing a window to witness the moon’s peak. Even if clouds obscure the exact moment, the moon will remain full and brilliant for a couple of nights, rising early in the evening and appearing larger and closer than usual. This means anyone heading home from work, running errands, or simply stepping outside will likely spot its glowing presence low over the horizon. No fancy equipment is needed—just a clear spot of sky and a moment to look up.
Across the Atlantic, Northern Ireland’s residents are also preparing for the Cold Moon’s ascent. According to BBC’s regional reports, the full moon will reach its peak on Thursday, December 4, 2025, and it will be the third supermoon in a row for the year. Each full moon has picked up a nickname over time—June’s is the Strawberry Moon, for example—but December’s is called the Cold Moon because it rises during one of the coldest, darkest periods of the year.
For those in Belfast, the moon will rise in the north-eastern skies at approximately 2:52 pm and remain high throughout the night. The best viewing opportunities will be in the pre-dawn hours of December 4 and 5, as well as the evening of December 4, when, as EarthSky notes, “there’s a potential you’ll notice the supermoon is exceptionally bright.” Weather forecasts for Northern Ireland predict cloudy skies with outbreaks of rain in the morning, but drier weather is expected to edge in from the west by evening, offering hope for clearer views. Temperatures will hover around a chilly 7 °C, so stargazers are advised to bundle up and seek out clear, dark spots away from streetlights for the best experience.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, Australians are preparing for their own lunar show. According to Australian Traveller, the Cold Moon will loom large and luminous on Friday, December 5, 2025, marking the third and final supermoon of the year. This event follows the Harvest Moon in October and the Beaver Moon in November, closing out what has been described as a “supermoon trilogy.”
But what exactly is a supermoon? NASA explains that a supermoon occurs when a full moon reaches its closest point to Earth along its elliptical orbit, making it appear up to 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than usual. It’s a breathtaking visual illusion that leaves skywatchers in awe and photographers scrambling for the perfect shot. In Australia, the best time to catch the Cold Moon is just after sunset, when the so-called “moon illusion” is at its most dramatic. Moonrise times vary by city: Sydney’s is at 8:35 pm AEDT, Melbourne’s at 9:16 pm AEDT, Brisbane’s at 7:07 pm AEST, Perth’s at 7:57 pm AWST, and so on. The moon will rise on the eastern horizon, and while no equipment is necessary, binoculars or a telescope can reveal the moon’s craters and maria in striking detail.
The Cold Moon’s name, as reported by multiple sources including BBC and Australian Traveller, reflects its timing in the northern hemisphere, where it signals the arrival of the coldest months and the longest, darkest nights. In Australia, of course, the moon marks the opposite—ushering out the cooler weather and heralding the peak of summer. This dual symbolism adds a unique global resonance to the event.
For astronomy enthusiasts, the 2025 Cold Moon offers more than just a bright night. According to a December 3 report from astronomy news outlets, the moon’s approach to its perigee—the closest point to Earth in its orbit—will coincide with a remarkable celestial dance. On Wednesday, December 3, the nearly full moon will perform a “pas de deux” with the famous Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters. In astronomical terms, a pas de deux refers to the close, gravitationally influenced orbital motions of two celestial objects. The moon will actually occult, or pass directly in front of, the Pleiades, creating a captivating spectacle for those lucky enough to have clear skies.
The full phase of the Cold Moon is set for 6:14 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 4, 2025, but astronomers note that the best viewing might be the night before, thanks to this rare lunar-star cluster conjunction. The Cold Moon’s significance is further deepened by its place in tradition: the names of the 12 full moons each year come from Native American practices, referencing key natural events or changes in the landscape during that month.
For anyone worried about missing this lunar event, there’s reassurance in knowing that the sky’s calendar is always full. Australians, for example, can look forward to another supermoon on January 3, 2026, with two more following later in the year. Other celestial highlights on the horizon include a total lunar eclipse in March, the Eta Aquariid meteor shower in May, and a close rendezvous of Venus and Jupiter in June.
As the holiday season ramps up and daily life grows hectic, the Cold Moon offers a gentle reminder to pause and look up. Whether you’re in the snowy fields of New York, the rain-soaked hills of Northern Ireland, or the balmy summer evenings of Australia, the moon’s steady glow connects us all under one sky. No matter where you are or what traditions you hold, the Cold Moon’s beauty is a universal gift—simple, steady, and breathtakingly bright.
