On 5 December, a spectacular ‘Cold Moon’ will close out this year’s supermoon trilogy with a bang.
Australian skies have been shamelessly showing off this year. We’ve had meteor showers Eta Aquariids and the Perseids sprinkling sparks across the sky, seen a striking strawberry moon and witnessed our first blood moon since 2022. But galaxy gazers and photographers have more to look forward to before we tick over into the new year.
The Cold Moon will loom large and luminous on Friday, 5 December. Following the Harvest Moon in October and the Beaver Moon in November, it marks the third and final supermoon of the year.
What is a supermoon?
According to NASA, a supermoon occurs when a full moon reaches its closest point to Earth along its elliptical orbit. There are roughly 12 full moons each year, but only a select few draw close enough to qualify as ‘super’. When they do, they can appear up to 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than usual – a breathtaking visual illusion that has skywatchers in awe.
When to see the Cold Moon on 5 December
While it may be visible earlier, the best time to catch the Cold Moon is a little after sunset, when the ‘moon illusion’ is at its most dramatic. Here are the respective sunset and moonrise times for each capital city in Australia:
Sydney – 7:52pm – 8:35pm AEDT
Melbourne – 8:30pm – 9:16pm AEDT
Brisbane – 6:32pm – 7:07pm AEST
Perth – 7:11pm – 7:57pm AWST
Adelaide – 8:17pm – 9:02pm ACDT
Hobart – 8:36pm – 9:28pm AEDT
Darwin – 7:01pm – 7:31pm ACST
Canberra – 8:06pm – 8:49pm AEDT
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How to see it
You won’t need any fancy equipment – supermoons are nature’s way of offering a zoomed-in lunar study to anyone with functioning eyesight. That being said, binoculars or a telescope will reveal craters and maria (large, dark basaltic plains) in sharper detail, ideal for those seeking to soak up the Moon’s geological drama.
Quick tips for viewing the December supermoon in Australia
- Find a location with a clear, unobstructed view of the eastern horizon
- Just after sunset is when the moon appears largest and brightest
- Turn down the exposure and brightness on your phone camera to avoid fuzzy, blown-out white photos of the moon
- Check the weather forecast before heading to your viewing spot
Why is it called a Cold Moon?
In the northern hemisphere, the December supermoon is nicknamed the Cold Moon as it signals the arrival of winter’s chill and the year’s longest, darkest nights. Down under in Australia, of course, it does the opposite – ushering out the cool weather and heralding summer’s peak.
Celestial events to look forward to in 2026
Worried about missing the December Cold Moon? No need for lunar FOMO. Another splendid supermoon will grace our skies on 3 January 2026, with two more following on 24 November and 23 December 2026.
Aussies can also mark the calendar for a total lunar eclipse in March, the Eta Aquariid meteor shower in May and a close rendezvous of Venus and Jupiter in June.
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