December’s Cold Moon

The Final Full Moon of the Year: The Cold Moon

The final full moon of the year will appear in the night sky this week, commonly known as the “Cold Moon”, “Moon Before Yule”, and “Long Night Moon”. This moon phase occurs during the longest periods of darkness just before the Winter Solstice.

The Moon will appear fullest at 4:02 a.m. ET on Dec. 15, but it will be visible on both the night of the 14th and 15th.

What You Need To Know

• The final full moon of the year rises Saturday night
• Will appear with the Geminid Meteor Shower
• Next full moon will be the Wolf Moon on January 13, 2025

The “Cold Moon” will notably be the highest full moon of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun will be at its lowest point of the sky, which means that the moon will be the opposite. That means that you will be able to see the bright “Cold Moon” for a longer period of time in the night sky.

Other events in the night sky

The Geminids, one of the more reliable meteor showers of the year, will be peaking around December 12th and 13th this year. While the shower is best viewed during the night and pre-dawn hours, activity typically begins around 9 or 10 p.m., according to NASA. It is important to note that the timing of the “Cold Moon” will make visibility of the meteor shower lower due to the brightness of the full moon.

Moon Phases

There are eight different phases of the moon. What phase follows a full moon?

A new moon follows a full moon. The sequence of moon phases is as follows:

• New Moon
• Full Moon
• New Moon

Conclusion

The Cold Moon will be a notable event in the night sky, and it will be interesting to see the moon’s position in the sky as it rises higher due to the sun’s low point. The Geminid Meteor Shower will also be a great opportunity to see some shooting stars, even if the brightness of the full moon makes them harder to spot.

FAQs

• Q: When will the Cold Moon be visible in the night sky?

A: The Cold Moon will be visible on both the night of December 14th and 15th, with the peak full moon occurring at 4:02 a.m. ET on December 15th.

• Q: What is the next full moon?

A: The next full moon will be the Wolf Moon on January 13, 2025.

• Q: What is the Geminid Meteor Shower?

A: The Geminid Meteor Shower is one of the more reliable meteor showers of the year, and it will be peaking around December 12th and 13th this year.

• Q: Will the brightness of the full moon affect the visibility of the meteor shower?

A: Yes, the brightness of the full moon will make it harder to spot the meteor shower, but it will still be possible to see some shooting stars.