Lunar rarity: December full moon rises this weekend. How to see the last full moon of 2024

The final full moon of 2024 will rise as far north as it ever does — a phenomenon that happens every 18.6 years called a “major lunar standstill.”

December’s full moon, also known as the cold moon, will peak around 4 a.m. EST on Sunday, but will appear full on both Saturday and Monday nights.

It will shine alongside the Geminid meteor shower, which peaks from December 13-14.

Because the cold moon is the full moon that happens closest to the winter solstice – the longest night of the year for the Northern Hemisphere – it takes the highest path along the top of the sky so it’s visible longer than other full moons.

What is a major lunar standstill?

During a major lunar standstill, which occurs every 18.6 years, the moon rises and sets at its northernmost and southernmost positions on the horizon. On Dec. 15, the full moon will reach its most northerly point in the sky, according to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.

It occurs, Space.com said, because the moon doesn’t follow the same path as the sun. “Its rising and setting positions on the horizon change constantly due to the movements of Earth and the moon,” Space.com reported.

Stonehenge, the ancient monument in England, is thought to have been designed with the major lunar standstill in mind. The alignment of the stones corresponds with the direction of the southernmost moonrise.

Lunar halo: The ring around the moon

In California, online chatter included the question, “What’s up with the ring around the moon?”

Some speculated that the ring was possibly a “portal to heaven,” “coming judgment,” or caused by “chemtrail residue” sprayed over Southern California.

Some claim the moon ring is a sign of bad weather or a warning of an impending earthquake.

The folks at Space.com explained that the moon’s “halo or lunar halo” is an optical illusion that causes a large bright ring to surround the moon.

The halo or circle is created when light is refracted, reflected, and dispersed through ice crystals suspended in cirrus or cirrostratus clouds located at an altitude of 20,000 feet and higher, according to Space.com.

Moon halos may occur all year round but are slightly more noticeable during colder months in the Northern Hemisphere when more ice crystals can form at high altitudes, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.

Some legends say a moon halo warns that bad weather is coming soon. Although it may not be true every time, meteorologists have documented that high cirrus clouds that help form moon halos often come before storm systems, the Farmers’ Almanac stated.

Why is December’s full moon called the cold moon?

The term cold moon originated from The Mohawk tribe who named it for the frigid conditions that occur during it. The moon was also called the “long night moon” by the Mohicans, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Geminids also hitting peak activity: When, how to watch

The lunar show comes as the Geminids, one of 2024’s most-anticipated meteor showers, is about to be at its best and most active.

While bright shooting stars may regularly fill the skies, the Geminid meteor shower is considered among astronomers and avid stargazers to be the cream of the crop. Now, the cosmic display – famed for its strong, bright and consistent fireballs – is reaching its peak activity for the year Thursday and Friday.

When the Geminids are most active, stargazers have the opportunity to witness a dizzying 120 meteors per hour under the right weather conditions.

Here’s what to know about the Geminids meteor shower, including when it peaks and what causes it.

While the Geminids are active through Dec. 21, the best time to see them will be Thursday and Friday, according to the American Meteor Society.

The days before and after the peak activity might also be good for spectators to look for the meteors, though an almost-full moon may compete with the bright fireballs, according to Earth Sky.

Because the Geminids are active much earlier in the night than most meteor showers, it’s a good opportunity for young stargazers to catch a glimpse of shooting stars without staying up well past their bedtime. While the shower is best viewed during the night and predawn hours, activity typically begins around 9 or 10 p.m., according to NASA.

Here are some general viewing tips from the space agency:

• Find an area well away from street lights and the light pollution of cities.

• Come prepared for winter temperatures with a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair.

• Lie flat on your back with your feet facing the south and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.

It should take less than 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt so that you can see streaking meteors.

CONTRIBUTING Doyle Rice

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cold moon rising: What makes 2024’s last full moon a lunar rarity

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