Miami is looking brighter than ever this holiday season, with dazzling light displays throughout theme parks and neighborhoods in addition to luminous outdoor ice skating rinks. Now, our night skies have a light show of their own prepared for this month and we’re not going to want to miss it! The final supermoon of the year, also known as the Cold Moon, will appear later this week.
What is a supermoon?
A supermoon occurs when a moon is at its closest distance to Earth, or its perigee. As a result, it appears bigger (as much as 14%) and brighter (as much as 30%) to the naked eye, according to NASA. Because both the Moon’s and Earth’s orbit changes, supermoons only happen three to four times a year.
Why is it called the Cold Moon?
Like other moon names, this one has origins in the Native American, colonial and European traditions, per the Old Farmer’s Almanac. “Cold Moon” is the most common term, originating from the Mohawk tribe and describing the colder conditions that occur during the month.
Other names used to describe the December Moon include Long Night Moon (Mohican), Frost Exploding Trees Moon (Cree) and Little Spirit Moon (Anishinaabe). In Europe, ancient pagans also referred to it as the Moon Before Yule, perfectly timed for the start of the Yuletide festival.
When to see the last supermoon of 2025 in Miami
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Cold Moon will reach peak illumination at 6:14 p.m. on Thursday, December 4. It will also be at its full form the following night, December 5, so you have plenty of chances to catch it!
When is the next supermoon?
Luckily, we won’t have to wait long for the next supermoon, which is set to rise on January 3, 2026! But if you miss it, you’ll have to wait until late November for the following one….