The final and longest full moon of the year is set to grace the night sky on Monday, reaching its peak on Tuesday.
The December full moon, often referred to as the Cold Moon or Long Night Moon, will reach its peak brightness at 7:33 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, as reported by NASA. It will maintain its appearance as a full moon until Thursday morning. The Old Farmer's Almanac provides moonrise times tailored to various ZIP codes throughout the United States.
Observing the full moon is a straightforward task, according to NASA. All you need to do is step outside, gaze up at the sky, and you'll have a clear view. If you want a closer look with enhanced details of its surface, using a telescope or binoculars is recommended.
Advertisement
What is Cold Moon?
The Cold Moon, influenced by Native American and European traditions, is a celestial phenomenon during which the moon will be 99.5 percent illuminated.
Where does December's full moon get its name from?
The name "Cold Moon" for December's full moon is derived from Mohawk traditions, as indicated by the Farmer's Almanac. This name reflects the chilly weather typically experienced during this period of the year.
The December full moon is also known as the "Long Night Moon" because it aligns with the winter solstice, which marks the longest night of the year. This year's winter solstice fell on December 21st.
Advertisement
"The full moon takes a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite to the low sun, so the moon will be above the horizon longer than at other times of the year," according to NASA.
According to the Farmer's Almanac, December's full moon goes by several other names, including Drift Clearing Moon, Frost Exploding Trees Moon, Moon of the Popping Trees, Hoar Frost Moon, Snow Moon, Winter Maker Moon, Moon When the Deer Shed Their Antlers, and Little Spirit Moon. In addition, ancient pagans in Europe referred to the December full moon as the Moon Before Yule.
The upcoming full moon in the following month is named the "Wolf Moon," and it is set to reach its peak on January 25th.
Is the moon ever full on Christmas?
While December's full moon rarely coincides with Christmas, such an alignment does happen. The most recent instance of a full moon peaking on Christmas was in 2015. Prior to that, there had not been such an occurrence since 1977. Astronomers predict that the next full moon on Christmas won't happen until 2034.
