INDIANA – Tonight the moon will reach its full moon phase as December’s aptly-named Cold Moon, the final full moon of 2022, rises for most of the night.
The Cold Moon rises above the horizon around sunset and sets at sunrise reaching peak illumination at around 11:09 p.m. EST (0409 GMT) according to Farmer’s Almanac.
Observers in parts of North America and Europe can also see the moon pass in front of Mars, a phenomenon called an occultation.
December’s Cold Moon has a higher trajectory than most, which means it will stay above the horizon for longer than many full moons.
The name for December’s full moon, the Cold Moon, is attributed to the tradition of the Mohawk people, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. The name reflects the frigid conditions of December and the increasing grip of winter.
Other names for December’s full moon also reflect icy conditions and the deepening of winter. These include the Snow Moon from the Haida and Cherokee traditions and the Western Abenaki people’s Winter Maker Moon.
