Moon Phases — December 2025
Full Moon on December 4 at 23:18 UTC, New Moon on December 20 at 02:46 UTC. Each cell shows that day's phase and illumination.
December 2025 · phase for each day (UTC)
Best Nights in December
✦Darkest skies
Dec 18 – Dec 22
Around the New Moon (Dec 20), little moonlight — the best nights for the Milky Way, meteors and faint deep-sky objects.
◐Sharpest Moon detail
Dec 11 · Dec 27
At the quarter Moons the terminator throws long shadows across crater rims — the best nights to photograph lunar surface detail.
○Brightest nights
Dec 3 – Dec 5
Around the Cold Moon (Dec 4), strong natural moonlight for night walks — but it washes out fainter stars.
Moonrise & moonset where you are
See tonight's moonrise, moonset and best viewing time for your location — then plan the rest of the month from the grid above.