Science
This is the best time to see the Full Cold Moon: Check out the lunar phenomenon that won’t happen again until 2043
During the early hours of December 15, the full moon will reach its maximum illumination and comes with a rarity that will not be repeated for years.
Night sky watchers and astronomy fans will see a new phenomenon tonight after enjoying the Geminid meteor shower, which peaked on December 13. Now, on December 15, the sky will gift us the last full moon of the year, known as the cold moon.
Although the moon will be officially full until early Sunday morning, it will look quite full in the night sky from Saturday until Monday. not be repeated for 18 years. We share all the details with you.
You’ll need to wait until 2043 if you miss this one
For the last time this year, the moon will reach its maximum illumination from Earth on Sunday, December 15, at 4:02 a.m. ET, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. At that time, the moon will set at the northernmost point on the horizon, an event that happens every 18.6 years.
This means we’ll see the Moon rise further north than ever before. This happens during what’s known as the “Great Lunar Standstill.” According to Space.com, the “Great Lunar Standstill” significantly affects how long the Moon stays in the sky at night.
What makes this event special is that the moon will be seen at a higher point in the sky than what is typical, with the team at Space.com adding that it also "remains in the sky longer."
As for why this is, the experts point to the fact that the Moon does not follow the same path as the Sun. The Moon’s orbit is tilted 5.1 degrees relative to the ecliptic, allowing it to rise and set at different points on the horizon from year to year. The full cycle of its north-south-north swing takes 18.6 years, and we’ll see that this weekend.
Why is the December moon known as the “cold moon”?
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the names of the moons were influenced by those given by Native Americans, as well as settlers who passed them down from generation to generation. “Different Native American peoples traditionally used the monthly Moons and nature’s corresponding signs as a calendar to track the seasons,” notes the site.
It is not difficult to guess why the name for the full moon in December is “Cold Moon.” However, you might not know that the name comes from the Mohawk people as a marker of the weather that is to come.