Be sure to look to the night this weekend to catch the very last full moon of the year illuminating the sky in a grand display of celestial wonder! The end of year lunar event will reach peak illumination at 4:02am EST on Sunday, December 15th.
Don’t fret if you won’t be up that early though, because NASA notes that the moon will appear full for about three days, from Friday evening through Monday morning, making it a full moon weekend!
The phenomenon of a full moon occurs when Earth gets sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon and we Earthlings get a full view of the sun illuminating the moon, making it appear full. It’s really only 100% full during a lunar eclipse, however–considering the moon’s rotation and the fact that we only ever see the same side of the moon, part of it tends to be in shadow, explains Space.com.
December is known for its long, cold nights, so it’s no wonder why this month’s last full moon has been dubbed the Cold Moon. Other traditional names for this December moon include the Frost Moon and the Winter Moon, both of which are also understandable.
So be prepared to bundle up for the cold and take advantage of these early nightfalls to admire the night sky. However, do be on the lookout–though the Farmer’s Almanac writes that “there’s no real consensus on how moons affect our moods and physical well-being, there are plenty of studies and real-life experiences that blame it for everything from increased crime and injuries to lack of sleep.”