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.

Author: Jackson Miller