The Cold Moon, the 12th and final full moon of 2024, will rise on Sunday, Dec. 15, and reach its highest point in the night sky alongside Jupiter
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Cold Moon 2024: Witness the Year’s Final Full Moon Alongside Jupiter This Weekend
As the final full moon of both 2024 and fall, the rise of the Cold Moon marks a spectacular, if chilly, conclusion to the celestial calendar. Officially full at 4:01 a.m. EST this Sunday, Dec. 15, the Cold Moon will be best seen later in the day during moonrise, particularly in the eastern sky. It will be positioned in the constellation Taurus, surrounded by some of the night sky’s brightest stars and the planet Jupiter.
While the Cold Moon can be viewed with the naked eye, the experience is elevated with a pair of binoculars or a small beginner’s telescope, offering a close-up view of its orangey lunar surface glowing above the eastern horizon. The full moon will also appear bright and full on Saturday, Dec. 14, and Monday, Dec. 16.
The Cold Moon gets its name from the Mohawk people, who named it to reflect the approaching winter months. It rises just a week before the December solstice, the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the onset of astronomical winter. It’s also known as the Long Nights Moon and the Moon Before Yule, referring to a Pagan festival coinciding with the solstice. In addition to its Mohawk roots, other Native American names for this full moon include the Drift Clearing Moon, Hoar Frost Moon, Snow Moon, and Winter Maker Moon. According to Timeanddate, the Cold Moon is also referred to as the Oak Moon in Celtic culture, highlighting its significance across different cultures as December’s full moon. With the moon opposite the sun during this time, it mirrors the sun’s path, making it appear at its highest point in the sky during the day while the sun dips low.
On the night of the full moon, our natural satellite will shine prominently in the sky, nestled below Capella in the constellation Auriga and above Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion, with Jupiter positioned to its right. This full moon, known as the Cold Moon, marks the final lunar event of 2024 and offers a breathtaking view of our celestial neighbor. Throughout December, Jupiter will remain one of the brightest objects in the night sky, adding a striking contrast to the Cold Moon’s glow. This alignment presents a unique opportunity for sky watchers to observe both the largest planet in our solar system and our moon in close proximity, creating a captivating celestial tableau.
The Cold Moon also coincides with the peak of the Geminid meteor shower, one of the year’s most spectacular displays of “shooting stars.” Unfortunately, the bright light of the full moon will make it more challenging to spot as many meteors as usual. However, this celestial event still offers a mesmerizing opportunity for stargazers, as the sheer number of meteors during the Geminids is unparalleled throughout the year. Viewing conditions might be less ideal due to the moon’s brightness, but the Cold Moon’s ambient glow will still provide a striking backdrop to these fiery streaks across the sky.
Looking ahead, the next full moon after the Cold Moon will be the Wolf Moon, which will reach its peak on January 13, 2025. This upcoming lunar event serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of the moon and the changing seasons, bridging the gap between the old and the new year. This article was updated on December 12 to reflect the full moon’s rise this weekend, ensuring that stargazers are well-prepared to witness this beautiful celestial occurrence.