Dazzling ‘Cold Moon’ Supermoon Closes Out 2025 with Stunning Global Display
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The final full moon of 2025,dubbed the “Cold Moon,” offered stargazers a breathtaking spectacle on December 4th,glowing brightly alongside the stars of the constellation Taurus. This celestial event marked the third in a four-month run of “Supermoons” – full moons occurring when the moon is at its closest point to Earth, appearing up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than the year’s smallest full moon, frequently enough called a “micromoon.”
A Global Phenomenon Captured by Astrophotographers
Photographers around the globe eagerly captured the beauty of the “Cold Moon,” named for the plummeting temperatures of early winter, as it rose above the eastern horizon and soared across the autumn sky. The resulting images provide a stunning visual record of this year’s final lunar event.
One striking image, captured by Space.com’s own Daisy Dobrijevic with an iPhone 16 Pro on December 3rd from Teide National Park in tenerife,showcased the moon’s brilliance against a volcanic landscape. “Even though the near full moon thwarted some sky watching efforts,it sure knew how to light up a stunning landscape,” Dobrijevic shared.
Supermoon Science: What Makes These Full Moons Special?
The December full moon’s enhanced appearance is due to its proximity to Earth during its elliptical orbit. This closer distance results in a more significant visual impact,making it a favourite among both amateur and professional astronomers. The phenomenon offers a unique opportunity to observe lunar details not typically visible during smaller, more distant full moons.
Capturing the Cold Moon Around the World
The spectacle wasn’t limited to the Canary islands.Kwong Liew created a spectacular composite time-lapse of the “Cold Moon” rising behind the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, while the city below shimmered with evening light. In Mexico City, Daniel Cardenas skillfully framed the fully-lit lunar disk between the wings of the Angel of Independence monument.
Further afield, Henrique Casinhas captured a crisp view of the moon over lisbon, Portugal, revealing the streaks of reflective material emanating from ancient impact craters. Gary Hershorn photographed an orange full moon rising between the skyscrapers of New York City, and Patrick T. Fallon documented a spectral view of the moon veiled by clouds over Los Angeles, crossed by converging airplane contrails.
The artistry continued with Rasid Necati Aslim’s image from London, depicting the “Cold Moon” seemingly held in the palm of an LED fairy.Yan Dongliang captured the lunar disk alongside a carved stone rooftop in China’s Liaoning Province. Tiziana Fabi’s photograph from Rome showcased a murmuration of starlings passing in front of the moon, while Hakan Akgun’s moody image from Istanbul featured the moon rising behind the Blue Mosque, its reflection shimmering in the water.
In Washington D.C., Celel Gunes captured the moon above the Capitol Building, with the Statue of Freedom appearing to gaze upon the glowing disk. Patrick T. Fallon also captured a wide-angle view of the moon rising over Los Angeles, and Huseyin Demirci created an optical illusion in Turkey, depicting a man seemingly carrying the moon in a wheelbarrow.
Looking Ahead to 2026’s Lunar Displays
While the “Cold Moon” of december 4th has passed, the lunar disk will continue to appear nearly full for the next few nights. Moreover, skywatchers can anticipate another spectacular event on January 3, 2026, with the rise of the final supermoon in the current cycle, promising another dazzling display to begin the new year.
If you’ve captured your own stunning images of the lunar landscape, consider sharing them with Space.com’s readers by sending your photos, comments, name, and location to [email protected].
