Missed The Rare Cold Moon On December 15? Know When You Can Get To See It Next
The Cold Moon, the last full Moon of 2024, coincided with a rare 'lunar standstill', making it the most northerly Moon in nearly 2 decades.
Cold Moon 2024: If you missed the dazzling spectacle of the rare “Cold Moon” on December 15, don’t worry — there is still plenty to marvel at in the night sky, with Geminid meteor shower still on, Quadrantids all set to become active, and Jupiter and Saturn continuing to put up a show. Another chance to see the rare Cold Moon that coincided with a “major lunar standstill”, however, will not come anytime soon.
Here’s everything you need to know about this rare event and when it will return.
What Is The Cold Moon?
The Cold Moon is the last full Moon of the year and is named for the frigid conditions of December.
As the full Moon closest to the winter solstice (December 21), this celestial event is also known as the Long Night Moon. According to NASA, the alignment of the Moon's orbit around Earth closely matches the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun, creating a unique effect: when the Sun’s path is at its lowest in the sky during the year, the full Moon opposite the Sun rises to its highest point.
This phenomenon highlights the interplay between the Earth, Sun, and Moon during the winter season, offering a mesmerising sight for skywatchers.
This year’s Cold Moon was particularly special because it coincided with a “major lunar standstill”, a phenomenon that happens only once every 18.6 years, according to scientists. During a lunar standstill, the moonrise and moonset positions are at their most extreme points due to the Moon’s tilted orbit and wobble, known as "lunar precession".
On December 15, the Cold Moon rose at 3:20 PM GMT (8:50 PM IST) to set at 9:44 AM GMT (3:14 PM IST) on December 16, putting on a rare celestial show in some parts of the world. Appearing in the constellation Taurus, it was surrounded by some of the night sky’s brightest stars and shared the stage with Jupiter and the ongoing Geminid meteor shower. Together, different parts of the planet were able to see the Moon for nearly 16 hours.
Why Was This Year’s Cold Moon So Rare?
This month’s Cold Moon not only marked the final full Moon of 2024 but also took place during the peak of the Geminid meteor shower*, known for its intense displays of shooting stars. The Geminids are often referred to as a “meteor storm” due to their brilliance and high activity, with dozens of meteors visible per hour.
Adding to the rarity, this year’s Cold Moon was to rise and set at its most northern points in nearly two decades, a feature of the major lunar standstill. According to timeanddate.com, such an alignment won’t happen again until 2043, so skywatchers will need to mark their calendars far in advance to catch the next one.
In the UK, some lucky stargazers had clear enough skies to witness the moonrise, but many areas were blanketed in clouds, making it difficult to see, The Independent reported. meanwhile, no sighting of the Cold Moon was report in India.
For those who couldn’t catch the Cold Moon this time, the good news is that the Geminid meteor shower continues until December 20. While the peak has passed, you can still spot some shooting stars over the next few nights, particularly after midnight in areas with clear skies.
When Can You See The Cold Moon Again?
The next major lunar standstill Cold Moon will occur in 2043, marking the return of this rare alignment. However, there will still be annual Cold Moons in the coming Decembers, even if they lack the extreme characteristics of this year’s event.
In the meantime, keep an eye out for upcoming celestial events like the quadrantid meteor shower in early January or other full Moons throughout the year. During this lunar cycle, three meteor showers will grace the night sky: the Comae Berenicids (020 COM), the Ursids (015 URS), and the Quadrantids (010 QUA).
Cold Moon In Different Cultures
This full Moon has been known by various names across cultures. Europeans have called it the Moon before Yule and the Oak Moon, as it occurs before the winter solstice. It’s also referred to as the Long Night Moon, reflecting its extended visibility due to the Sun’s low path in the sky during this time of year. Other names include the Chang’e Moon, the Frost Moon, and the Winter Moon, showcasing its significance across different traditions.
For Hindus, this full Moon marks Datta Jayanti, celebrating the birth of the god Dattatreya, and Margashirsha Purnima, and also aligns with Karthika Deepam, observed in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, and Kerala when the Moon lines up with the Pleiades constellation.
For Sri Lankan Buddhists, it is Unduvap Poya, commemorating the arrival of a sacred Bodhi Tree sapling in 288 BCE, believed to be the oldest human-planted tree still alive today.
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