The last Full Moon of the year is about to climb the sky. Find out when the December Moon appears in full brightness and what it is traditionally called.
When is the Full Moon in December 2022?
Our natural satellite will reach the Full Moon phase on December 8, 2022, at 04:08 GMT (December 7, at 11:08 p.m. EST). The Moon will be located in the constellation Taurus, where it will also meet bright Mars at opposition. The orange-red dot near the glowing lunar disk — that’s a sight to see!
What time does the Full Moon rise?
The Full Moon will rise right after the sunset, in the direction opposite the Sun. To find out the exact moonrise time for your location, use a stargazing app like Star Walk 2 or Sky Tonight.
In Star Walk 2:
- Tap the menu icon in the lower right corner of the main screen and open the Sky Live section.
- Change the date to December 8, 2022 (December 7 for Eastern Time Zone).
- On the screen, you’ll see the exact timings when the Moon and other sky objects rise and set for your location.
In Sky Tonight:
- Tap the calendar icon at the bottom of the main screen.
- Tap the tab “Moon” at the top of the screen.
- Tap on December 8 (December 7 for Eastern Time Zone).
- You’ll see the moonrise and moonset times together with other useful information.
How long does a Full Moon last?
Astronomically speaking, the Full Moon is the exact moment when the Moon reaches opposition to the Sun in the sky. But for the observers, the lunar disk will appear full and bright for one day before and after it. The December Full Moon is also the closest to the solstice. The nights in the Northern Hemisphere are getting longer, which gives people from that part of the world even more time to enjoy the Full Moon.
What is the December Full Moon 2022 name?
The most common traditional name for the Full Moon in December is Cold Moon. To learn more folklore names for every Full Moon in a year, take a look at our Full Moon calendar.
What is a Cold Moon?
The name Cold Moon originates from Mohawk Native American culture and implies that the temperatures drop significantly at that time. American Indian tribes associated the name of the Full Moon with the entire month until the next Full Moon, so the Mohawk name also means “time of the cold.”
December Full Moon Alternative Names
In the Northern Hemisphere, the December Full Moon is the closest to the winter solstice that marks the longest night of the year. That’s why another popular name for it is Long Night Moon. The winter solstice was celebrated as the Yule festival in the Anglo-Saxon tradition, so one more Full Moon’s name is the Moon Before Yule.
In the Southern Hemisphere, December is a warm month, and the traditional Full Moon’s names were connected to the summer season, like Strawberry Moon.
Here are some more examples of the December Full Moon names in different cultures:
- Chinese: Bitter Moon
- English Medieval: Oak Moon
- Cherokee: Snow Moon
- Colonial American: Christmas Moon
- Southern Hemisphere: Strawberry Moon, Honey Moon, Rose Moon
When is the next Full Moon after the Cold Moon 2022?
The next Full Moon will already be in the year 2023. It will occur on January 6, at 23:08 GMT (6:08 p.m. EST). The traditional January Full Moon name is Wolf Moon.
Bottom line: The last Full Moon of the year 2022 will be the Full Moon on December 8 (December 7 for Eastern Time Zone). It’s traditionally called Cold Moon because of the harsh weather in December in the Northern Hemisphere. Don’t miss one of the last celestial shows in 2022, and follow us on social media to keep abreast of the exciting astronomical events that will occur in 2023.
We wish you clear skies and successful observations!
Text Credit: Vito Technology, Inc.
