When is the next full moon? Everything to know about the Cold Moon in December 2023
December's full moon will add some extra shine to Christmas when it glows brightest toward the end of the month. Appropriately called the Cold Moon, here's everything you need to know about when and how best to see it.
When is the full moon in December 2023?
If you find images of Santa's flying reindeer backlit by the moon appealing, you're in for a treat. The next full moon will reach peak illumination just after Christmas on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, according to NASA.
To the naked eye, the moon will appear almost full on the nights of Dec. 24 and 25 (93% and 98%, respectively), creating a great moment for parents to read "T'was the Night Before Christmas," to their children, when the "moon on the breast of the new fallen snow, gave the luster of mid-day to objects below."
This full moon is also a partial lunar eclipse, according to the experts at NASA, an imperfect alignment of the sun, Earth and moon that results in the moon passing through only part of Earth's umbra.
When are the phases of the moon in December 2023?
The moon's phases in December are as followed:
🌗 Last Quarter: Dec. 5.
🌑 New Moon: Dec. 12.
🌓 First Quarter: Dec. 19.
🌕 Full Moon: Dec. 27.
Why is it called the Cold Moon?
It's no mystery why December's full moon is commonly referred to as the "Cold Moon," or the "Winter Maker Moon," according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. It's the first full moon after the winter solstice when temperatures are normally freezing in the northern hemisphere.
The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, according to the National Weather Service, when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. This means selenophiles — people who love and appreciate the moon — will get extra time this month to marvel at Earth's lunar satellite as it soars across the heavens.
When does winter start in 2023?: When the 2023 winter solstice falls and when winter begins
When is the best time to see the full moon in December 2023?
Almanac
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According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 5:54 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, crossing the meridian at 12:58 a.m. before setting at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Why does the moon sometimes appear red?
You may have noticed the moon will occasionally take on a dramatic shade of orange or red in the night sky. That's because of how sunlight strikes the moon's surface after passing through our atmosphere.
When the moon moves into the inner part of Earth's shadow, or umbra, according to NASA, some of the sunlight entering Earth's skies scatters before reaching the moon's surface.
Colors with shorter wavelengths, such as blues and violets, scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, which include red and orange. The more dust or clouds in Earth's atmosphere during a lunar eclipse, the redder the moon appears.
Mark your calendars: Hoosiers have less than 4 minutes to see this rare total solar eclipse in 2024
When is the first full moon of 2024?
Skywatchers have something to howl about in January thanks to the Full Wolf Moon, which is scheduled to make its appearance on Thursday, January 25, 2024.
Almanac
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John Tufts covers evening breaking and trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: When is the next full moon? What to know about December Cold Moon
