The December Full Moon
Cold Moon
December's full moon, riding high through the longest nights.
The next Cold Moon is full on Thursday, December 24, 2026 at 01:16 UTC. It is a supermoon — full near the Moon's closest approach to Earth, so a touch larger and brighter than usual.
Why it's called the Cold Moon
December brings the year's longest nights and deepening cold, so its full moon became simply the Cold Moon — or, for the dark it crosses, the Long Night Moon.
December's full moon presides over the longest nights of the year. Because it sits opposite a low winter Sun, it rides unusually high and stays above the horizon longer than any other full moon — a long, cold, brilliant light.
The Mohawk name, the Long Night Moon, captures both the season and the moon's high, lingering arc. In the old English calendar it was the Moon Before Yule, the last full moon of the year.
December's full moon is also known as the Long Night Moon, the Moon Before Yule.
Watching the Cold Moon
A full moon rises in the east around sunset and stays up all night, setting near sunrise — so any clear evening close to Thu, December 24 you can watch it climb once it gets dark. It looks biggest and most golden in the first hour after it rises, sitting low on the horizon.
Photographing it? A full moon is flatly lit and shows little crater relief — frame it against a landscape, hills or skyline just after moonrise for scale and warm colour. For sharp crater detail, shoot a night or two before or after full, when shadows return along the terminator.
Because the 2026 Cold Moon is a supermoon, it appears slightly larger and up to about 15% brighter than an average full moon — most striking as it rises near the horizon.
Cold Moon dates
| Year | Date (UTC) | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thu, December 24 · Super | 01:16 |
| 2027 | Mon, December 13 | 18:08 |
| 2028 | Sat, December 2 | 04:34 |
| 2029 | Fri, December 21 | 00:02 |
| 2030 | Mon, December 9 | 21:07 |
Times are UTC, computed from lunar geometry — local clock times vary by your time zone.
Frequently Asked
When is the Cold Moon in 2026?
The Cold Moon in 2026 is full on Thursday, December 24, 2026 at 01:16 UTC. It is the full moon of December.
Why is it called the Cold Moon?
December brings the year's longest nights and deepening cold, so its full moon became simply the Cold Moon — or, for the dark it crosses, the Long Night Moon.
What else is the December full moon called?
Besides the Cold Moon, December's full moon is also known as the Long Night Moon, the Moon Before Yule.
Is the Cold Moon a supermoon in 2026?
Yes — the 2026 Cold Moon on Thursday, December 24, 2026 is a supermoon: the full moon falls near the Moon's closest approach to Earth, so it looks slightly larger and brighter than usual.