Chills and Thrills! December’s COLD SUPERMOON is Shining Tonight—Don’t Miss the Last Sky Show of the Year!
Hey Skygazers! Get ready to look up! Tonight, Thursday, December 4, 2025, marks the final Full Moon of the year, and it’s closing out with a massive, brilliant bang. Say hello to the Cold Supermoon!
If you’re in Centennial or the wider Colorado area, you have a front-row seat to the most spectacular lunar show of the season. Grab your coat, your camera, and your sense of wonder—it’s time to see the cosmos shine! The air is already crisp, the sky is clear, and our closest celestial neighbor is ready for its grand finale.
Supermoon Alert: Your Essential Viewing Guide for Centennial, CO
The best time to catch the Moon is right now, just as the sun goes down! The “Moon Illusion” effect—where the moon appears absolutely gigantic when it’s low on the horizon, thanks to atmospheric lensing and foreground objects—is at its most dramatic.
| Viewing Detail | Time for Centennial, CO (MST) | Pro-Tip! |
| Peak Full Moon | 4:14 PM MST (It’s 100% full!) | The Moon is now officially FULL! This is the moment of peak illumination. |
| Moonrise | 4:06 PM MST (Look East-Northeast!) | This is the absolute best time for photos! Watch for the deep orange-red hue as it climbs. |
| Prime Viewing Window | 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM MST | Grab a hot drink and enjoy the glow! The moon will still be relatively low and large. |
Pro-Tip on Viewing: Find a spot with an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon. For the best photos, try to frame the moon against a local landmark or a few pine trees to give the image scale and emphasize its massive size tonight! Even a simple pair of binoculars will reveal stunning details on the lunar surface.
Why Is This Moon a Big Deal? (It’s a Two-in-One Celestial Event!)
This isn’t just a regular Full Moon you’re seeing—it’s a rare and powerful combination of lunar names and optimal orbital mechanics that enhances the viewing experience.
1. The Cold Moon: An Ancient Tradition
December’s Full Moon gets its traditional nickname, the Cold Moon, from Native American traditions, specifically the Algonquin people. It’s a perfect reflection of the season in the Northern Hemisphere:
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The Big Freeze: It heralds the time when temperatures plummet, the ground freezes hard, and winter truly sets in across the continent. This moon was a signal for tribes to hunker down and prepare for the scarcity of the deep winter months ahead. Historically, the Cold Moon was a vital marker for planning resource management through the toughest parts of the year.
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The Long Night: It’s also affectionately known as the Long Night Moon because it rises around the time of the Winter Solstice (which is only a few weeks away—the longest night of the year). Due to its high arc in the sky, the Moon stays visible above the horizon for an extended period, offering continuous, brilliant light through the longest nights.
The Cold Moon is truly a celebration of light against the encroaching darkness, offering a beautiful reminder that even in the deepest cold, there is radiance.
2. The Supermoon: A Scientific Phenomenon
What really makes tonight special is the “Super” part! The term Supermoon was coined in 1979, but the science behind it is purely astronomical.
The Moon doesn’t orbit Earth in a perfect circle; it follows an ellipse. This means there is one point where it is closest to Earth (perigee) and one point where it is farthest (apogee). A Supermoon happens when a Full Moon occurs at or very near that perigee closest point.
Because of this cosmic proximity—tonight, the Moon is only about 222,000 miles away!—the visual effect is dramatic. Tonight’s Moon appears:
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14% Larger in diameter than a typical Full Moon.
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Up to 30% Brighter than the year’s weakest Full Moon (the micromoon).
Talk about ending the year with some serious luminosity! This added brightness makes tonight the easiest night of the year to observe lunar details with the naked eye or a simple pair of binoculars. Take a moment to scan the surface for those ancient craters, or the dark plains known as maria (seas).
Full Moon Fun: Your Cosmic End-of-Year Vibe Check
Full Moons are all about culmination, illumination, and high-energy release. As the final Full Moon of the year, the Cold Supermoon is your cosmic cue for some essential end-of-year house cleaning, both physical and energetic! Use this powerful light to clear the slate for a fresh start in 2026.
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The Release Ritual: Tonight is the perfect night for a simple but powerful ritual. Write down all the baggage, draining habits, old worries, or relationships you want to leave behind in 2025. Then, safely burn the paper (or rip it up and discard it) under the Moon’s bright glow. This symbolizes letting it all go and trusting the universe to clear space for new beginnings in the upcoming cycle.
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Goal Alignment and Intention Setting: Use the Moon’s powerful light to review your biggest goals for the year. What did you accomplish, and what needs a final, dedicated push before January 1st? This is an excellent time for powerful affirmations and setting clear intentions for a strong finish to your year.
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Moon Bathing: Charge up! Leave your crystals, jewelry, or even a glass of drinking water outside tonight (or on a windowsill) to soak up the intense, clean energy of the Supermoon. Many believe this cleanses the objects and infuses the water with positive, amplified lunar energy.
Don’t let the cold stop you! Bundle up, step outside, and soak up the spectacular energy of the final and brightest Full Moon of 2025. It’s truly a memorable way to bid farewell to the old year and prepare for the new.