Last night, the Cold Moon rose majestically to bid farewell to 2024, casting first its orange, then its silver glow on one of the longest nights of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

The last full moon of the year and fall was framed by the bright stars Capella in the constellation Auriga and Betelgeuse in Orion and flanked by the planet Jupiter.

According to Timeanddate.com, it was also the northernmost full moon moonrise and sunset until December 2043. Its very rare appearance in the northern sky amazed experienced moon watchers.

As the northernmost and highest rising full moon of the year, the Cold Moon reflected the Sun’s low arc in the daytime sky. Because of its high position, it remained visible longer than any other full moon.

The Cold Moon peaked at 4:01 a.m. EST on Sunday, December 15, and was best seen rising in the east at dusk later in the day. As it appeared just above the horizon, its surface took on a warm orange hue due to light scattering in Earth’s atmosphere.

The moon’s greatest standstill occurs when the northernmost and southernmost moonrise and sunset are furthest apart. The moon has an 18.6-year cycle, during which the exact locations where it rises and sets on the horizon wax and wane.

At each end of this cycle, there is a major lunar standstill, also called lunistic, a rare celestial event that occurs when the Earth and moon are at their maximum tilt. This causes the moon to rise and set at the outermost limits of its range. These extreme rise and fall positions occur over a two-year period.

This northernmost full moon rise and set of the current great lunar standstill follows the southernmost lunar rise and set, which occurred with the rise of the Strawberry Full Moon on Friday, June 21, 2024.

The Cold Moon, named for the freezing temperatures of December in the Northern Hemisphere, is also known as the “Moon of Long Nights,” a reference to the long hours of darkness at this time of year.

It is also called the “Moon before Yule,” which refers to the ancient pagan celebrations of the winter solstice. The Celts also called it the oak moon. Native American names for the December full moon include “Drift Clearing Moon” and “Winter Maker Moon.”

The next full moon, the Wolf Moon, will rise on January 13, 2025.

I wish you clear skies and big eyes.