Supermoon shines for days: Fairbanks sees three-day moonrise pause under December’s ‘Cold Moon’

Fairbanks is getting a celestial treat that only high-latitude Alaskans can truly appreciate: A full moon that refuses to set.

The December full moon, known traditionally as the Cold Moon, reaches its peak illumination today, Dec. 4, at about 10:14 am Alaska time. It’s also a supermoon, arriving at the moment the moon makes its closest monthly approach to Earth. But in Fairbanks, the spectacle comes with an added twist: Because of the city’s position at nearly 65° North, the moon won’t set for three straight days.

From Dec. 4 through Dec. 6, the Moon will hang above the horizon continuously, day and night, glowing at more than 99% illumination. It will appear essentially full for the entire stretch, shifting from waxing gibbous to waning gibbous as the days pass. The moon finally dips below Fairbanks’ horizon on Dec. 7, at about 2:28 p.m., ending its rare multiday arc across the sky.

This happens because, as winter darkness deepens, the moon’s orbital path stays entirely above Fairbanks’ horizon. Early December’s full moon rides high in the southern sky, while the Sun, still weeks away from rising again in the far north, remains below the horizon. The result is a natural lantern for the polar night.

For those willing to brave subzero temperatures (-8F currently), the best viewing is toward the southern sky around local midnight, where the Moon will appear brightest. And if skies remain clear, as they were for photographer Robert Lype, Fairbanks viewers may catch a bonus pairing: The luminous supermoon sharing the darkness with possible aurora activity.