We're getting a Christmas Eve supermoon this year. All you need to know about the December 2026 celestial spectacle
A rare supermoon is set to occur on Christmas Eve 2026, coinciding with the Moon's perigee. This astronomical event will result in a larger and brighter full moon, providing a notable visual spectacle for observers.
Why it matters
The event serves as a significant astronomical occurrence that engages the public interest in space science and celestial mechanics.
On December 24, 2026, a supermoon will rise over the winter night sky, making for a beautiful Christmas Eve spectacle to see in the festive holiday.
This Christmas Eve Supermoon is sure to be one of the most-observed full Moons of the year.
Here we'll go through what makes the 2026 Christmas Eve full Moon so special, why it's 'super' and top tips for observing it.
While full Moons occur roughly every 29.5 days, a full Moon landing precisely on Christmas Eve is a bit of an astronomical treat.
And this particular full Moon coincides with lunar perigee, which is the moment the Moon reaches its closest orbital distance to Earth.
This happens because the Moon doesn't trace a perfect circle in its orbit around Earth.
Instead, it forms an elliptical (oval-shaped) orbit, meaning sometimes it's closer to Earth than at other times.
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