The night sky offers a number of beautiful celestial events every year that draw the attention of the world's sky-watchers. Among them, two words seem to go viral: Cold Moon and Supermoon. While the words sound similar, they represent different things in astronomy. Here is an easy explanation of both.
What is a 'Cold Moon'?
The Cold Moon is the traditional name for the full moon that appears in December.
It is so-called because, in ancient traditions, mainly Native American and European, each full moon of the year had a special name based on the seasons and nature.
Why is it called the Cold Moon?
Because December is the month when:
- Winter begins in the Northern Hemisphere
- Nights grow longer.
- Temperatures drop rapidly
So, the full moon appearing during this cold and dark month became known as the Cold Moon.
Other names for the December Full Moon include:
- Long Night Moon
- Winter Moon
- Oak Moon
These names feature the long nights of winter and its stillness.
What is a Supermoon?
A Supermoon occurs when:
1. The moon is full, and
2. It is at its closest point in its orbit to Earth, known as perigee.
The moon's orbit is not a full circle; it is rather an oval one. That means that sometimes it is closer to Earth, while sometimes it is farther away.
What is special about a Supermoon?
When the full moon occurs near its closest distance:
- It is bigger in the sky
- It looks brighter than a regular full moon.
- This brings about wonderful moonrise and moonset views.
A Supermoon can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter compared with an average Full Moon, which is why people enjoy the show.
Can a Cold Moon be a Supermoon, too?
Yes!
If the full moon in December happens to be at perigee, then it also gets promoted to Cold Supermoon. Not every year it happens, but when it does, the night sky becomes even more spectacular.
Why do these moons matter?
People love these events because they:
- create surreal night-sky photography opportunities.
- connect us with old traditions and seasonal rhythms
- Make us contemplate nature and the great universe.
Even though the terms "Cold Moon" and "Supermoon" sound mystical, they are simply ways of understanding the natural patterns of the moon’s journey around Earth.
The Cold Moon speaks to winter's presence, quiet times, and times of introspection.
The Supermoon recalls to our minds how beautiful and wondrous the universe is.
Both events inspire people around the world to look up, pause, and appreciate the night sky — something we often forget in our fast, busy lives.
