The last full moon of 2024 will rise further north than ever before – a phenomenon that occurs every 18.6 years and is called the “great lunar standstill.”

December’s full moon, also known as the cold moon, peaks around 4 a.m. EST on Sunday, but appears full on both Saturday and Monday nights.

It will shine alongside the Geminid meteor shower, which peaks on December 13-14.

Because the Cold Moon is the full moon closest to the winter solstice – the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere – it takes the highest path along the top of the sky and is therefore visible longer than other full moons.

What is a great lunar standstill?

During a great lunar standstill, which occurs every 18.6 years, the moon rises and sets on the horizon at its northernmost and southernmost positions. According to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, the full moon will reach its northernmost point in the sky on December 15th.