Winter sky: Ukrainians will be able to see the “Cold Moon”, the third and last Supermoon of the year
3 December 21:48
On the night of Friday, December 5, Ukrainians will witness an astronomical event – the rise of the Cold Moon.
This phenomenon will be not only the third full moon of winter, but also the last Supermoon of this year, making it one of the most spectacular and easy to observe. This was reported by the BBC, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Astronomical developments
According to the BBC, the name “Cold Moon” is traditionally given to the December full moon, but this time it is unique:
- It will be the third and last Supermoon of 2025 (the previous two occurred in October and November).
- Since the Sun is low above the horizon in winter, the Moon, on the other hand, is very high in the sky. This makes it one of the best and easiest full moons to observe throughout the year.
The cause of the Supermoon phenomenon
The Supermoon phenomenon is associated with the elliptical orbit of the Earth’s satellite:
- The Moon’s orbit around the Earth is not perfectly round, but slightly elliptical (egg-shaped).
- Perigee and Apogee:
- When the Moon is at its closest point to the Earth, it is called “perigee” and it is at this point that the Supermoon appears.
- The farthest point of the orbit is called “apogee” .
- The Moon is considered full when it is located in the opposite part of the sky from the Sun, and its entire side facing the Earth is illuminated.
Thus, the Cold Moon in December will give Ukrainians the final opportunity of the year to see the Earth’s satellite in its largest and brightest form.
