This weekend, on Sunday, December 15, the final full moon of the year, known as the cold moon, will be visible. This particular full moon will be a lunar rarity as it will rise and set at its most extreme northerly points on the horizon. This phenomenon occurs every 18.6 years in what is known as the major lunar standstill, resulting from the moon’s inclined orbit around the Earth.
The full moon will be visible in the night sky on Saturday and Monday as well, and will reach its peak illumination at 4:02 a.m. EST on Sunday. The cold moon is named as such due to the frigid conditions of December, as winter begins to grip us. Additionally, it is also referred to as the long night moon because of its proximity to the winter solstice, which marks the longest night of the year.
The next full moon of 2025, the wolf moon, is set to rise on Monday, January 13. This moon is named for the likelihood of hearing wolves’ howls more often during winter. Overall, the full moon this weekend presents a unique astronomical event for skywatchers to enjoy.
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www.usatoday.com
