Will there be a full moon tonight? Last supermoon of 2025 in California

The last full moon of 2025 is gracing the night sky, marking the conclusion of a trio of consecutive supermoons visible in California. This December full moon, commonly called the Cold Moon, occurs on Thursday, December 4. According to NASA, the moon will look full for a couple of days, giving skywatchers a few chances to catch its brilliance.

What is a Supermoon?

A supermoon happens when the full moon coincides with its closest approach to Earth, a point known as perigee. At perigee, the moon is roughly 226,000 miles from our planet, though this distance can slightly vary. While still far away, the effect is noticeable: the moon appears larger and brighter than usual.

Moonrise Times Across California

For those in California wanting to view the December supermoon, here are the moonrise times on Thursday, December 4, according to Time and Date:

• Eureka: 4:22 p.m.
• Los Angeles: 4:22 p.m.
• Palm Springs: 4:16 p.m.
• Redding: 4:15 p.m.
• Riverside: 4:19 p.m.
• Salinas: 4:27 p.m.
• San Diego: 4:22 p.m.
• San Francisco: 4:26 p.m.
• Stockton: 4:21 p.m.
• Ventura: 4:26 p.m.
• Victorville: 4:17 p.m.
• Visalia: 4:19 p.m.

Upcoming Lunar Events

The next full moon will occur on January 3, 2026. A complete lunar cycle, which includes all eight phases from new moon to full moon, lasts approximately 29.5 days. This cycle usually produces 12 full moons each year, and occasionally 13 depending on the calendar alignment with the moon phases.

Why Cold Moon?

Decembers full moon is called the Cold Moon because it coincides with the winter season. Various Indigenous traditions have other names for this months full moon.

Next Lunar Eclipse

The next lunar eclipse visible in the U.S. is a total eclipse scheduled for March 3, 2026, which will also be observable from California.

Author: Aiden Foster