How To See The Child Supermoon In CA And Upcoming Geminid, Ursid Meteor Showers

CALIFORNIA — Californians are living in one of the top four states in the nation to see one of the most striking moonrises of the year, according to astronomers, Accuweather and the Action Network. On Thursday, the Cold Moon Supermoon will rise over the Sierra peaks, and desert basins of the Golden State, according to a recent news release.

This Cold Moon, also dubbed the Child Moon, is also the final supermoon of 2025, completing a rare three-supermoon sequence to close out the year. For ideal viewing at peak illumination, look to the east around 4:15 p.m. Thursday, when the moon is rising. This is when the Moon appears closest, largest and most colorful.

Choose a high vantage point or open horizon, avoid city-light glare, and steady your camera on a tripod or railing, experts say.

According to the Supermoon Visibility Index from Action Network — which measured sky clarity, humidity, elevation, and darkness across all 50 states — California’s mix of high terrain, coastal conditions, and expansive dark-sky zones gives it a strong chance of delivering an unobstructed, dramatic moonrise.

“California’s range of landscapes creates some incredible vantage points,” said an Action Network researcher. “From the Sierra Nevada to the Mojave Desert to the Pacific coast, the state offers wide-open horizons and reliably clear winter conditions in many regions. The odds of a vivid, unobstructed moonrise are surprisingly strong.”

The Story Behind the Cold Moon

December’s full Moon is traditionally known as the Cold Moon, marking the deep onset of winter and the longest nights of the year. Many cultures also call it the Long Night Moon, symbolizing stillness, frost, and late-autumn quiet.

Other names for the December full moon include the frost moon, the winter moon and the moon before Yule. NASA has a different name for it: the child moon, according to Gordon Johnston, a retired program executive and now volunteer writer for the agency’s monthly skywatching guides.
Five years ago, the term was coined by 7-year-old Astrid Hattenbach as she walked home with her father, Henry Throop, Johnston’s friend and former colleague.

This year’s Cold Moon turns full while the Moon is near one of its closest points to Earth — making it a supermoon. It will appear slightly larger and brighter, especially as it rises low on the horizon.

This Cold Moon will be one of the highest-rising full Moons in the northern skies until 2042, making it brighter and more visible.

Where are the best places in California to watch the Cold Moon in 2025:

• Joshua Tree National Park — crystal-clear desert skies
• Big Sur Coastline — moonrise over ocean cliffs and horizon
• Death Valley National Park — some of the darkest skies in North America
• Yosemite Valley — dramatic granite silhouettes
• Eastern Sierra (Bishop, Lone Pine) — thin mountain air and wide views
• Point Reyes National Seashore — unobstructed coastal horizons

Meteor Showers Covering California In December:

Along with the Cold Moon in December, look for shooting stars throughout the month from the Geminid meteor shower from Dec. 13-14, and Dec. 21-22

Geminid meteor shower: Dec. 12-13

"The Geminid meteor shower in December is one of the best of the entire year, with as many as 100 to 150 meteors per hour. It is also one of the few meteor showers visible all night long, although the best part of the show occurs after midnight. The only drawback is the fickle weather common across the country in mid-December, with most areas either under the chilly spell of Old Man Winter or under a veil of clouds amid typical wintry weather patterns.

Ursid meteor shower: Dec. 21-22

The final meteor shower of 2025 will take place on the first night of astronomical winter, with the Ursids peaking on Dec. 21-22. The event is not nearly as impressive as the Geminis, with the Ursids featuring a meager 10 meteors per hour. However, it is one last chance for stargazers to see some shooting stars before the end of the year, especially those who may have missed the Geminids due to poor weather."

California’s varied geography gives skywatchers a strong chance of a clear, dramatic moonrise, from high-elevation viewing in the Sierra Nevada and Eastern Sierra to extensive desert regions with low humidity and limited light pollution. The coastal cliffs and beaches offer expansive, unobstructed horizons, and there are many protected dark-sky areas in state and national parks. To round things off, Californians can see clear, crisp winter evenings across inland valleys and mountains.

Together, these conditions make California one of the best places in the U.S. to experience the final supermoon of the year.

Top 10 States for Viewing the Cold Moon (2025)

1. New Mexico
2. Arizona
3. Colorado
4. Nevada
5. Wyoming
6. California
7. Kansas
8. Hawaii
9. Texas
10. Utah