December 2024's Cold Moon: A Rare Lunar Event Lights Up the Night Sky
This weekend, something special will grace the night sky – the final full moon of 2024, known as the Cold Moon, will rise early on Sunday, December 15. Although it officially peaks at 4:02 a.m. EST, it will look full on Saturday, December 14, and even into Monday, December 16, so you have multiple opportunities to witness this celestial beauty.
But this full moon is extra special for a rare lunar event. On December 15, the moon will rise and set at its extreme northerly points on the horizon. This is due to a unique cycle that happens once every 18.6 years, referred to as the "major lunar standstill." During this time, the moon reaches its farthest northern and southern positions as it orbits Earth. It's a fascinating phenomenon that causes the moon to appear at different points on the horizon, swinging back and forth in a slow, almost wobbly movement. This cycle lasts nearly two decades, and we are witnessing the moon at one of its extreme points.
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The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles explains that the moon's orbit doesn't follow the same path as the sun. Instead, the positions where the moon rises and sets shift constantly due to the Earth's rotation and the moon's movement. Every 18.6 years, we experience the "major lunar standstill," where the moon seems to pause at each extreme position for a few years before it gradually moves back in the opposite direction. This is what gives us the extraordinary view of the moon at its most northern point this December.
As for the name "Cold Moon," it originates from the Mohawk people, who named it for the chilly temperatures typically felt during December. The full moon of this month marks the time when cold weather really begins to take hold. NASA also notes that while December is chilly, January brings the coldest average temperatures. Additionally, the Cold Moon is sometimes called the Long Night Moon because it coincides with the winter solstice, which brings the longest night of the year, occurring on December 21.
If you're looking for a breathtaking sky show, this full moon is the one to watch. No special equipment like telescopes is necessary, but if you have a pair of binoculars, keep an eye out for Jupiter, which will be positioned near the moon, with Aldebaran, the brightest star in the Taurus constellation, close by. Whether you are in the northern or southern hemisphere, the Cold Moon will be visible, so take some time to enjoy this rare lunar event, which won't happen again for many years.
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