Montana Could See Northern Lights and a Rare Supermoon

Montana may get another front-row seat to the Northern Lights tonight and tomorrow, and as always, it’s going to depend on the weather for how much of the show we will be able to see in the night sky.

According to NOAA, there is a good chance most of the state will see Northern Lights activity tonight. If we can avoid cloud cover. Tomorrow, the chance of seeing the Northern Lights will decrease. The Northern Lights can be unpredictable. If the forecast holds up, Montana will be one of 15 states where the lights will be visible.

NOAA.gov

The Northern Lights aren’t the only thing lighting up the sky this week. The last Supermoon of 2025 will illuminate the sky on Thursday, December 4, with the Cold Moon.

via GIPHY

What Makes This Cold Moon a Supermoon?

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, this upcoming full Moon we will have a chance to see the “Moon illusion,” which is when the Moon looks much bigger as it rises on the horizon. This Supermoon will be the third in a row, there was one in October and November. A Supermoon is when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit.

Why December’s Full Moon Has So Many Names

The December full moon is known by many different names, including Frost Exploding Trees Moon (Cree), Moon of the Popping Trees (Oglala), Snow Moon (Haida, Cherokee). In Europe, ancient pagans called it the “Moon Before Yule”, in honor of the Yuletide Festival.

If the weather cooperates over the next few days, we should get some amazing views of Montana’s night skies.