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Saturday, 14 December 2024

Cold moon


The full moon in December is known widely to be called the Cold Moon. This is especially by those living in the Northern Hemisphere. Alternative names for the full moon seen during December are Full Cold Moon, Oak Moon, the Long Night Moon, Moon Before Yule and Yule Moon. 

It's during December when Winter begins from the season of Yule and mainly the Winter Solstice that temperatures lower, making nights last longer and darker. It's bitterly cold and icy. Frost will appear in the mornings. Expect to see falling snowflakes to heavy snowfall. Sharper clear night skies of glistening stars and pale puffs of drifting clouds packed with snow. 

The full moon in December will happen on the 15th although it will be quite unique. This will be a slightest northern moonrise. It won't be completely bright as only 98% of it will be full and the least bright in 2024. However none of the moons of 2024 have been 100% full but 99% full. It will be on 15th Dec that the moon will rise at the most northerly position, which is a rare event. 

Often the moon and sun will rise at slightly off positions than most people would expect them to but this December's cold moon will rise further north in the sky. This behaviour of the December moon is called a "major lunar standstill". We should expect the moon to do this again in the year 2043 so that will be a long time off. The 15th full moon will be a special event. 

She Wolf Night 

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