According to NASA, this year, the final full moon of the year, also known as the Cold Moon, coincides with Christmas. This is an event you shouldn’t miss as it won’t occur again for another 10 years.
Flock of birds flying in front of the Cold Moon in 2022 – (Photo: THE WASHINGTON POST).
Specifically, the moon will rise around sunset on December 25, 26, and 27.
Typically, the full moon on Christmas occurs once every 19 years. However, in leap years and with other factors, the frequency can change.
According to the farmers’ almanac, the moon will be brightest and highest at 7:34 PM EST on December 26 (which is 7:34 AM on December 27 in Vietnam). The full moon will be most visible in the east at the end of the day, located in the constellation Gemini.
“The full moon has a high trajectory in the sky, as it is opposite the setting sun, meaning the moon will remain above the horizon longer than at other times of the year,” NASA states.
Therefore, while the sun is at its lowest point in the sky during the day in the Northern Hemisphere, the full moon will be at its highest.
On the night of the full moon and the night before Christmas, the moon will shine between two bright stars in the east: Capella in the constellation Auriga, located at the upper left, and Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion, located at the lower right.
After the December full moon, we will have the Wolf Moon The common name for the December full moon is the Cold Moon, as December is the coldest winter month of the year and the nights are longer than the days. Other names include Long Night Moon (referring to the winter solstice – the longest night of the year), Frost Moon, Snow Moon, and Winter Moon. The next full moon will occur on January 25, 2024, known as the Wolf Moon. This will be the first of 12 full moons in 2024. |
