The 2025 EarthSky lunar calendar makes a great gift. Get yours today!
When and where to look in 2024: For us in the Northern Hemisphere, the bright, round full moon will rise in the east around sunset for two successive nights: December 14 and 15.
The crest of the full moon will fall at 9:02 UTC on December 15. That’s 3:02 a.m. CST on December 15. And that’s also the moment when this month’s moon is most directly opposite the sun as seen from Earth. The moon is roundest on the day when it is full, but the day before and after, it appears almost, but not quite full.
Look for bright Jupiter near this full moon on both December 14 and December 15.
December full moon mimics the June sun
Every full moon is more or less opposite the sun. And a full moon’s path through the night is opposite the sun’s path. So, this December full moon’s path roughly follows the sun’s daytime path from six months ago, or six months hence. No matter where you are on Earth, notice the moon’s path on either December 14 or 15. The Northern Hemisphere will see the December full moon rise to nearly the top of the sky, just as the sun does near the June solstice. The Southern Hemisphere will see a low moon, mimicking a low winter sun.
Here’s another way to look at it. In the Northern Hemisphere, the December solstice has the least amount of daylight of the year. Since there’s still about 24 hours in a day no matter how much daylight there is, the shortest day means it must also be the longest night. So, for the moon to stay up all night and remain roughly opposite the sun, it needs to take a longer path across the sky. The higher an object crosses the sky, the longer its path and the longer it stays above the horizon.
Tracing the high path of the December full moon
To see for yourself, try this: Trace a line with your finger from east to west to emulate the sun’s path in December. If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, you’ll be tracing a low arc above the southern horizon. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, you’ll be tracing a high arc above the northern horizon. Then, with your finger, trace another path high overhead. Now you’re emulating the moon’s December path, and you’ll see it’s a longer path than the lower one.
And likewise, if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, trace a low arc to emulate the moon’s December path. Little by little, we can watch the two paths come back into balance. Each month, the full moon will cross the sky at a slightly lower arc than the previous month. Each successive full moon will take less time than the previous one to cross the sky.
What about an equinox moon?
At March’s full moon, which is near the Northern Hemisphere’s spring equinox, the two paths – of the moon and of the sun – will be nearly the same. Then, near the June solstice, those of us in the Northern Hemisphere will see the sun cross high overhead during the year’s longest days. And, during the short northern summer nights, we’ll see the moon cross a lower path on the sky dome and spend less time in the sky.
And on the cycle goes.
Names for the December full moon
Of course, now we see why sometimes the December’s full moon is called the Long Night Moon. But – like all full moons – the full moon of December has many nicknames: Long Night Moon, Full Cold Moon, and in Decembers when it falls before Christmas, Moon Before Yule. But no matter which name appeals to you, be sure to notice the moon’s high path!
Read more: A guide to traditional full moon names and their meanings
Last full moon of 2024
This full moon is the last full moon of 2024. It is also the last full moon of the Northern Hemisphere’s autumn and the Southern Hemisphere’s spring. Plus it is the closest full moon this year to the December solstice, occurring just one week before. This solstice marks the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. It lands at 9:21 UTC on December 21, 2024. That’s 3:21 a.m. CST on December 21, 2024.
December full moon in Gemini
The December full moon can lie in front of one of two constellations of the zodiac and occasionally two additional constellations. This year it lands at the foot of Gemini the Twins but in most years it falls in Taurus the Bull. And on December 20, 2029, it will occur in the constellation Orion. When it rises at 5:15 p.m. CST, the full moon will be in the middle of a total lunar eclipse!
Enjoy December’s full moon!
Bottom line: The 2024 December full moon will occur in the early morning hours of December 15 near the bright planet Jupiter. The moon closely follows the path of the June sun. It will lie in the constellation Gemini the Twins near the twin stars Castor and Pollux.
The post 2024 December full moon is near Jupiter! first appeared on EarthSky.
from EarthSky https://ift.tt/FNP4DsW
The 2025 EarthSky lunar calendar makes a great gift. Get yours today!
When and where to look in 2024: For us in the Northern Hemisphere, the bright, round full moon will rise in the east around sunset for two successive nights: December 14 and 15.
The crest of the full moon will fall at 9:02 UTC on December 15. That’s 3:02 a.m. CST on December 15. And that’s also the moment when this month’s moon is most directly opposite the sun as seen from Earth. The moon is roundest on the day when it is full, but the day before and after, it appears almost, but not quite full.
Look for bright Jupiter near this full moon on both December 14 and December 15.
December full moon mimics the June sun
Every full moon is more or less opposite the sun. And a full moon’s path through the night is opposite the sun’s path. So, this December full moon’s path roughly follows the sun’s daytime path from six months ago, or six months hence. No matter where you are on Earth, notice the moon’s path on either December 14 or 15. The Northern Hemisphere will see the December full moon rise to nearly the top of the sky, just as the sun does near the June solstice. The Southern Hemisphere will see a low moon, mimicking a low winter sun.
Here’s another way to look at it. In the Northern Hemisphere, the December solstice has the least amount of daylight of the year. Since there’s still about 24 hours in a day no matter how much daylight there is, the shortest day means it must also be the longest night. So, for the moon to stay up all night and remain roughly opposite the sun, it needs to take a longer path across the sky. The higher an object crosses the sky, the longer its path and the longer it stays above the horizon.
Tracing the high path of the December full moon
To see for yourself, try this: Trace a line with your finger from east to west to emulate the sun’s path in December. If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, you’ll be tracing a low arc above the southern horizon. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, you’ll be tracing a high arc above the northern horizon. Then, with your finger, trace another path high overhead. Now you’re emulating the moon’s December path, and you’ll see it’s a longer path than the lower one.
And likewise, if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, trace a low arc to emulate the moon’s December path. Little by little, we can watch the two paths come back into balance. Each month, the full moon will cross the sky at a slightly lower arc than the previous month. Each successive full moon will take less time than the previous one to cross the sky.
What about an equinox moon?
At March’s full moon, which is near the Northern Hemisphere’s spring equinox, the two paths – of the moon and of the sun – will be nearly the same. Then, near the June solstice, those of us in the Northern Hemisphere will see the sun cross high overhead during the year’s longest days. And, during the short northern summer nights, we’ll see the moon cross a lower path on the sky dome and spend less time in the sky.
And on the cycle goes.
Names for the December full moon
Of course, now we see why sometimes the December’s full moon is called the Long Night Moon. But – like all full moons – the full moon of December has many nicknames: Long Night Moon, Full Cold Moon, and in Decembers when it falls before Christmas, Moon Before Yule. But no matter which name appeals to you, be sure to notice the moon’s high path!
Read more: A guide to traditional full moon names and their meanings
Last full moon of 2024
This full moon is the last full moon of 2024. It is also the last full moon of the Northern Hemisphere’s autumn and the Southern Hemisphere’s spring. Plus it is the closest full moon this year to the December solstice, occurring just one week before. This solstice marks the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. It lands at 9:21 UTC on December 21, 2024. That’s 3:21 a.m. CST on December 21, 2024.
December full moon in Gemini
The December full moon can lie in front of one of two constellations of the zodiac and occasionally two additional constellations. This year it lands at the foot of Gemini the Twins but in most years it falls in Taurus the Bull. And on December 20, 2029, it will occur in the constellation Orion. When it rises at 5:15 p.m. CST, the full moon will be in the middle of a total lunar eclipse!
Enjoy December’s full moon!
Bottom line: The 2024 December full moon will occur in the early morning hours of December 15 near the bright planet Jupiter. The moon closely follows the path of the June sun. It will lie in the constellation Gemini the Twins near the twin stars Castor and Pollux.
The post 2024 December full moon is near Jupiter! first appeared on EarthSky.
from EarthSky https://ift.tt/FNP4DsW
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