Cold Supermoon to dazzle skywatchers this week

The big picture: This week's supermoon will sit about 221,965 miles from Earth when it hits peak illumination on Thursday.

• At perigee, the closest point in the Moon's elliptical orbit around Earth, a supermoon can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than when it's at apogee, according to NASA.
• It will look especially dramatic just after the Moon's rise thanks to the Moon illusion phenomenon — the visual quirk that makes the Moon appear huge when it's low on the horizon.

The backdrop: The Old Farmer's Almanac traces the name "Cold Moon" to Mohawk tradition. Other Native American tribes used "Long Night Moon," a nod to December's long stretch of darkness.

It's a perfect moment to step outside, take a breath and, if the spirit moves you, let out a good-natured howl, a harmless way to release a bit of 2025 chaos.