Overview
- The final supermoon of 2025 reaches full illumination on Dec. 4 at about 6:14–6:15 p.m. EST, roughly 12 hours after perigee at about 221,965 miles (357,218 km), making it the year’s second-closest full moon.
- With the winter solstice approaching, the sun rides low by day, so this full moon takes the year’s highest nighttime arc across Northern Hemisphere skies.
- For most viewers the best sight comes at moonrise on Dec. 4–5, when the moon appears largest near the horizon due to the moon illusion and will look full both evenings.
- At this distance a supermoon can appear up to about 14% larger and 30% brighter than the year’s faintest full moon, and its stronger pull can contribute to higher local tides such as roughly 12-foot highs forecast around Boston.
- Looking ahead, the Geminid meteor shower peaks overnight Dec. 13–14 under a waning crescent, and the next supermoon is the Wolf Moon on Jan. 3, 2026.