Final supermoon of the year will appear tonight

Chilly December weather signals the arrival of the full Cold Moon tonight. Adding to the spectacle, this full moon will also be a supermoon, appearing at its closest point to Earth. Supermoons can look up to 7% larger and shine up to 15% brighter than a typical full moon.

This marks the final supermoon of a trio, with the next one expected only in May of the coming year. The December full moon is traditionally called the Cold Moon due to the seasons frigid temperatures. It is also referred to as the "Long Night Moon" because it appears close to the winter solstice and stays visible longer than most other full moons.

Tonights clear skies promise a stunning view. As the moon rises over the horizon, it will initially seem unusually large because of the moon illusion, an optical phenomenon where the moon appears bigger compared to nearby objects on the horizon. Once the moon climbs higher into the sky, this effect diminishes.

Author: Jackson Miller