Montana’s Last Supermoon Of The Year Will Light Up The December Sky

We have had some impressive stargazing moments in Montana this year. A couple of weeks ago those northern lights were unreal. The sky lit up in colors I have never seen before, and I managed to grab a few photos that I will be looking back on for a long time. Now we have one more sky show to look forward to before the year wraps up, and if you miss it you will not get another chance for the "EXTREME moon" until 2042.

The final supermoon of the year will reach its peak at 6:15 p.m. EST on December 4, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. This one is called the cold moon and it is the third and last supermoon of the year. It will sit about 221,965 miles from Earth and will look full for a couple of nights, so you will have a good window to catch it. Wednesday and Friday should both give you a strong view if the sky cooperates.

As always, Montana weather keeps us guessing. The forecast is calling for a 42% chance of snow showers, but we all know that can flip in five minutes. Supermoons tend to look even bigger when they rise on the horizon because of something called the moon illusion. When it lifts behind mountains or distant buildings, it can look massive and almost unreal. And we all know we have plenty of hills around here in Montana.

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If the clouds break, this will be a great chance to snap a few photos or simply enjoy a bright winter sky. With the next one more than twenty years away, it is worth bundling up and taking a look.