On Christmas, a full moon will be awaiting the early-risers
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Version 0 of 1. On Friday, the moon will be full, for the last time this year, and for the first time on Christmas since 1977. The rare sight will be “an added gift for the holidays” NASA said last week in a statement. Under the practice of applying designations to each of a year’s full moons, this will be the Full Cold Moon, in honor of its appearance at the outset of winter. That designation may seem a bit misplaced this year, as both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are predicted to be anything but cold, with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. The full moon will be at its fullest at 6:11 a.m., before sunrise but not before faint traces of light may seep into the sky. Seeing the earth’s satellite at its end-of-year fullest will require a good view of the western horizon. About an hour after becoming full, the moon will set in the west-northwest. Like many celestial phenomena, a full Christmas moon will come again. But not soon. The next one according to NASA, will be in 2034. |