December’s Cold Moon is set to light up the night sky this week.

The largest will appear at 4:01 a.m. ET on Sunday, December 15, marking the last full moon of the year.

Cold Moon is the name traditionally given to the full moon that occurs in December by Native American Mohawks, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Cold moons usually appear larger and brighter than usual due to the moon’s high position in the sky during the winter months.

When to see the cold moon

Those hoping to catch it in its full glory can watch it rise in the eastern sky around 5pm on December 15, entering the constellation Taurus as it reaches its peak.

Of course, you can see the moon with the naked eye, but with binoculars or binoculars, you can see some of the fascinating features that adorn our satellite.

Why is it called the ‘cold moon’?

The name Cold Moon is pretty self-explanatory, reflecting the onset of freezing temperatures and the approaching winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.

Each month’s full moon has its own name, such as the Wolf Moon in January, the Worm Moon in March, the Strawberry Moon in June, the Harvest Moon in September, and the Beaver Moon in November.

Since the December full moon occurs near the solstice, it rises earlier and stays in the sky longer, coinciding with the longest nights of the year. This inspired alternative names such as the Moon of the Long Night.

This full moon is also sometimes called the Moon before Christmas because in some European traditions it was associated with the Christmas season, a winter festival.

Other Native American names include Flight Moon, Exploding Tree Moon, Cracking Tree Moon, Hoarfrost Moon, Snow Moon, Winter Maker Moon, Deer Drops Antlers Moon, and Little Spirit Moon.

This full moon also comes a week after Jupiter’s opposition, which is when the planet appears brightest as it is at its closest point in its orbit to Earth. Just before the Cold Moon, Jupiter will come very close to the Moon in the sky.

“Jupiter will reach opposition on December 7, making it the brightest of the year and visible all night. You’ll find it rising in the east and northeast as darkness falls, among the stars in the constellation Taurus,” NASA’s Preston Dyches. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory featured in a “What’s Happening” video in NASA’s monthly skywatching guide.

“In the middle of the month, around December 14, watch for Jupiter sitting between the nearly full Moon and the brightest star in Taurus, the orange-hued Aldebaran.”

In 2024, the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere occurs on Saturday, December 21.

This day marks the shortest period of daylight and the longest period of darkness of the year.

This is because during the winter solstice, the North Pole is tilted farthest from the Sun, resulting in minimal solar radiation.

After the solstice, daylight hours gradually increase as the Earth moves toward the vernal equinox in March.