Berlin: The last supermoon of 2025, known as the Cold Moon, will rise on December 4 as the Geminid meteor showers begin. Look east on this night to witness the final supermoon of the year.

According to Deutsche Welle, supermoons occur when a full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth, known as the moon’s perigee. On December 4, the moon will be around 17,000 miles (27,300 kilometers) closer to Earth, making it appear up to 10% larger and much brighter than usual. This supermoon is also referred to as a “cold” full moon, signaling the onset of colder, darker months.

If skies are clear, the moon may appear larger when it rises over the horizon, a phenomenon known as a moon illusion. This optical illusion occurs because objects at the horizon appear larger to the human eye. The moon may also display a yellow tinge as it rises, due to the scattering of short, blue wavelengths of light, leaving predominantly red wavelengths visible.

Each full moon has a descriptive name related to the time of
year it occurs. For example, January’s is the Wolf Moon, while December’s is the Cold Moon. The full moon names are primarily based on North American traditions but have become common globally.

Looking forward to 2026, there will be three supermoons, starting with the Wolf Moon on January 3. Other celestial events include the Geminid meteor showers, peaking on December 14, 2025, and the Ursids, showering from December 17-26, 2025.

Additionally, 2026 will feature two solar eclipses. An annular solar eclipse on February 17 will be visible in Antarctica and partially in several regions, including parts of South America and Africa. A total solar eclipse on August 12 will be visible in Spain, Iceland, Greenland, and northern Russia, with partial views in North America, parts of Africa, and Europe.