Arkansas Storm Team Blog: Chilly Supermoon on Thursday

On Thursday, December 4, the full moon for December will grace the sky. This month, it coincides with a supermoon, which occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth during its orbit. Observers often note that a supermoon appears slightly larger and brighter than a typical full moon.

In Little Rock, the full moon will rise at 4:32 p.m., but it will not be visible immediately because the sun sets later, at 4:57 p.m. The moon reaches its fullest illumination at 5:15 p.m., achieving 100% fullness. Unfortunately, Thursdays weather includes clouds, cold rain, and a chance of mixed wintry precipitation and flurries, which may obstruct views of the moon at its peak.

By Friday morning, when the moon sets around 8 a.m., skies are expected to clear in many areas, allowing for potential observation of the setting full moon. Friday night, although the moon will no longer be completely full, it will rise under partly cloudy conditions and remain almost entirely full at about 99.7%, virtually indistinguishable from a full moon.

Leading up to and after Thursday, the moon will maintain a bright, full appearance. For those who miss this Cold Supermoon, another supermoon is scheduled for January. On January 13, 2026, the Wolf Moon will mark the fourth and final supermoon in a sequence that began in October. While consecutive supermoons are relatively uncommon, they do follow predictable patterns, just as micromoonswhen the moon is farthest from Earthoccur during new or full moon phases. A full micromoon appears slightly smaller and dimmer in comparison.

Analysis: December Cold Supermoon Visibility

The December full moon coinciding with a supermoon offers a rare opportunity for skywatchers to observe an unusually large and bright lunar display. In Little Rock, the moon reaches full illumination at 5:15 p.m., but weather conditions—clouds and cold rain—may hinder immediate observation.

By Friday morning, as skies clear in many areas, observers may catch a view of the setting full moon before it descends around 8 a.m. Although the following night’s moon will be slightly less than fully illuminated at 99.7%, it remains effectively a full moon and can be observed under partly cloudy conditions.

This supermoon is part of a predictable sequence, culminating with the Wolf Moon supermoon on January 13, 2026. While supermoons are infrequent, their timing aligns with known lunar orbital patterns, contrasting with micromoons, which appear smaller and dimmer when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth.

Sources:

• Arkansas Storm Team Blog: Cold Supermoon Thursday