The longest — and last — full moon of the year will appear on Monday night and peak on Tuesday.
December's full moon, also known as the Cold Moon and Long Night Moon, will reach peak illumination at 7:33 p.m. ET on Tuesday. It will look like a full moon until Thursday morning. The Old Farmer's Almanac details specific moonrise times for different ZIP codes across the United States.
To view a full moon, it is recommended to go outside and look up at the sky. Using a telescope or binoculars will magnify the moon and clarify details on its surface.
Where does December's full moon get its name from?
December's full moon gets its Cold Moon moniker from Mohawk traditions. The name is based on the frigid conditions of the time of year.
The full moon is also called the Long Night Moon because December's full moon occurs near the winter solstice, which has the longest night of the year. This year's solstice was on Dec. 21.
The Full Moon and its Rare Occurrence on Christmas
According to NASA, the full moon takes a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite to the low sun, resulting in the moon being above the horizon longer than at other times of the year.
December's full moon is known by various names such as Drift Clearing Moon, Frost Exploding Trees Moon, Moon of the Popping Trees, Hoar Frost Moon, Snow Moon, Winter Maker Moon, Moon When the Deer Shed Their Antlers, and Little Spirit Moon, according to the Farmer's Almanac. Ancient pagans in Europe referred to the December full moon as the Moon Before Yule.
The next month's full moon, which will peak on January 25, is called the Wolf Moon.
Is the Moon Ever Full on Christmas?
Although December's full moon occasionally falls on Christmas, it is a rare occurrence. The most recent full moon on Christmas was in 2015.
Prior to that, the last Christmas full moon was in 1977. Astronomers predict that the next Christmas full moon will not occur until 2034.
Before that, there hadn't been one since 1977.
Astronomers say the next Christmas full moon won't be until 2034.
