When will the December full moon occur? Tips for viewing the final supermoon of 2025.

The year 2025 will conclude with its final supermoon, lighting up the skies above Oklahoma City with one of the brightest full moons of the year. A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth, making it appear slightly larger and more luminous than usual, though the difference is subtle to the naked eye.

This last supermoon is the third in a series of four consecutive supermoons that began in October. On Thursday, December 4, the December full moon will rise just before reaching its full phase. The moon will appear above the horizon at 4:51 p.m. CST and will officially become full at 6:14 p.m.

For those wanting to see the supermoon at its peak, it will reach the highest point in its path across the sky at 12:37 a.m. CST on Friday, December 5. A supermoon is defined as a full moon occurring within 90% of its closest distance to Earth, which slightly increases its apparent brightness and size.

In 2025, there were three supermoons, all appearing in the final months of the year. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, they were:

• Harvest Moon Monday, October 6 at 10:47 p.m. CT
• Beaver Moon Wednesday, November 5 at 7:19 a.m. CT
• Cold Moon Thursday, December 4 at 5:14 a.m. CT

The sequence of supermoons will continue into 2026, beginning with the January full moon on Saturday, January 3, which will close the four-month run of consecutive supermoons.

The December full moon is traditionally called the Cold Moon, a name used by the Mohawk tribe to mark the arrival of winter. Other Indigenous groups have their own seasonal names, such as the Snow Moon by the Haida and Cherokee, or the Long Night Moon by the Mohican tribe, reflecting either the cold weather or the upcoming winter solstice.

Author: Olivia Parker