December’s full moon, also known as the Cold Moon, reaches peak illumination on December 26 at 7:33 p.m. EST.
The full moon arrives just a day after Christmas, so the moon will appear full beginning on Christmas night through December 27. This should give watchers ample time to get a good look at the last full moon of 2023 and the first full moon of the winter season.
To find it,look toward the constellation Gemini, which is close to Orion and Taurus.
Why the December Full Moon Is Called the Cold Moon
The full moon names we use today originate from Native American, Colonial American and other traditional sources, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Most of these names can be tied to nature and the time of year when these full moons occur.
The Cold Moon, not surprisingly, gets its name because this is when the colder weather of the winter season begins to take hold.
In most years, the full moon arrives before the winter solstice, which typically lands on December 21 — give or take a day. The winter solstice is also the longest night of the year, which is why some cultures call December’s full moon the Long Night Moon.
Other interesting names for December’s full moon include Frost Exploding Trees Moon, Winter Maker Moon and Snow Moon. That last name, however, is also what we call February’s full moon.
Is December’s Full Moon Brighter Than Others?
The December full moon shines just as bright as all the other full moons throughout the year, but it is unique in another way —and it has everything to do with the long winter nights.
December’s full moon stays above the horizon longer and travels higher in the sky than most other full moons throughout the year.
This year, the full Cold Moon will rise at 4:51 p.m. EST on December 26, and it won’t set until the next day, December 27 at 8:49 a.m. EST. That gives everyone almost 16 full hours to look up and catch a glimpse of the brightest object in the night sky.
When Is The Next Full Moon?
The next full moon occurs on January 25, 2024. That moon is called the Wolf Moon.
A complete moon cycle — from full moon to full moon — is about 29 and a half days, which averages out to about 12 full moons most years.
That wasn’t the case this past year when we got a second full moon, or a blue moon, in August.
The next time we’ll see 13 full moons in a year will be in 2026 when we’ll get two blue moons — one in January and one in March.
Jason Meyers is a meteorologist and nature enthusiast who once made a number of entertaining and educational YouTube videos.
How to see December’s full Cold Moon right after Christmas originally appeared on Simplemost.com, helping make the most out of life.
Mwezi kamili wa Desemba, pia unaojulikana kama Mwezi Baridi, hufikia mwangaza wa kilele Desemba 26 saa 7:33 EST. Mwezi kamili huanza siku moja tu baada ya Krismasi, kwa hiyo mwezi utaonekana kuanzia usiku wa Krismasi hadi Desemba 27. Hii inapaswa kuwapa watazamaji muda wa kutosha kuona mwezi kamili wa mwisho wa 2023 na mwezi kamili wa kwanza wa msimu wa baridi. Ili kuipata, angalia kuelekea kundi la nyota la Gemini, ambalo liko karibu na Orion na Taurus. "Jina la mwezi kamili wa Desemba linajulikana kama ""Mwezi wa Baridi"" na linatokana na asili ya asili ya Amerika, koloni ya Amerika na vyanzo vingine vya jadi, kulingana na The Old Farmer's Almanac." Majina mengi ya mwezi huo yanaweza kuhusianishwa na asili na wakati wa mwaka ambapo mwezi huo unakuwa kamili. Mwezi wa baridi, kwa sababu inaitwa hivyo, ni wakati ambapo hali ya hewa ya baridi ya majira ya baridi kali huanza. Mwezi kamili huwasili kabla ya solstice ya majira ya baridi, ambayo kwa kawaida huanguka Desemba 21, au kutoa au kuchukua siku. Siku ya mapumziko ya majira ya baridi kali pia ni usiku mrefu zaidi wa mwaka, ndiyo sababu tamaduni fulani huita mwezi kamili wa Desemba Mwezi Mrefu wa Usiku. Majina mengine ya kuvutia kwa mwezi kamili wa Desemba ni pamoja na Frost Exploding Trees Moon, Winter Maker Moon na Snow Moon. Hata hivyo, jina hilo la mwisho pia ndilo tunaloita mwezi kamili wa Februari. Je, Mwezi Mtakatifu wa Desemba ni Mwangavu Kuliko Mwezi Mwingine? Mwezi kamili wa Desemba huangaza kwa mwangaza kama mwezi mwingine wowote mzima wa mwaka mzima, lakini ni ya kipekee kwa njia nyingine - na ina uhusiano wote na usiku mrefu wa majira ya baridi kali. Mwezi kamili wa Desemba unabaki juu ya upeo wa macho kwa muda mrefu na kusafiri juu angani kuliko miezi mingine mingi kamili mwaka mzima. Mwezi wa baridi kamili utaonekana saa 4:51 jioni tarehe 26 Desemba na utaingia saa 8:49 asubuhi tarehe 27 Desemba. "Hiyo inatoa karibu masaa 16 kamili kwa kila mtu kuangalia juu na kukamata glimpse ya kitu mkali zaidi katika anga la usiku. """ Mwezi Mweupe Utakua lini? Mwezi mpya utaonekana Januari 25, 2024. Mwezi huo unaitwa Mwezi wa Mbwa-Mwitu. Mzunguko kamili wa mwezi - kutoka mwezi kamili hadi mwezi kamili - ni karibu siku 29 na nusu, ambayo kwa wastani ni karibu miezi 12 kamili miaka mingi. Hiyo haikuwa kesi mwaka jana wakati tulipata mwezi kamili wa pili, au mwezi wa bluu, mnamo Agosti. Mwezi wa kwanza wa bluu utaonekana mwaka 2026 na mwezi wa pili wa bluu utaonekana Januari na Machi. Jason Meyers ni mtaalamu wa hali ya hewa na mpenzi wa asili ambaye wakati mmoja alifanya idadi ya video za burudani na za elimu za YouTube. Jinsi ya kuona mwezi kamili wa baridi wa Desemba mara tu baada ya Krismasi awali ilionekana kwenye Simplemost.com, kusaidia kufanya zaidi ya maisha.