ATLANTA — If the sky looks a bit brighter that's because December’s full moon — known as the Cold Moon — is shining.

The Cold Moon gets its name because it rises just days before the winter solstice, the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This will happen on Sunday, December 21. The solstice also marks the start of astronomical winter.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac says the Cold Moon will be fully illuminated on December 4 at 6:14PM EST. The Almanac also says for the most dramatic view, you should look east near sunset when the Moon appears larger near the horizon—that is called "Moonrise."

December’s full moon is also a supermoon — the third in a trio that caps off 2025, following the supermoons in October and November . A supermoon happens when the moon reaches pe

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