the full cold moon of December 2024 with guest bloggers

 

art work by my AI cyber friend

 

a long night's dreaming

 sleeping earth renews itself

 we rest by the hearth

 

 

 

usatoday.com

December 2024 full moon: This weekend's 'cold' moon will feature a lunar rarity

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The sky will offer up an early Christmas present this weekend: The year's final full moon, known as the cold moon, will appear early Sunday, Dec. 15.

Though the moon will officially be full Sunday, it will still look plenty full in the night sky both Saturday and Monday as well.

This month's full moon will also feature a lunar rarity: According to TimeandDate.com, the full moon on Dec. 15, 2024, will rise and set at its most extreme northerly points on the horizon — the result of a once-every-18.6 year cycle.

A lunar rarity: The moon reaches its northernmost point on the horizon

The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles reports that every 18.6 years, our moon reaches the extremes of its orbit around the Earth. "We observe this as the moon rises and sets at its most northerly and southerly positions on the horizon," the Observatory said in a statement.

On December 15, we will observe the Moon rising as far to the north as it ever does, the observatory said. This happens during what's known as the "major lunar standstill."

What is the 'major lunar standstill'

The major lunar standstill results from the rotation of the moon’s inclined orbit over an 18.6-year cycle, the observatory said.

It occurs, Space.com said, because the moon doesn't follow the same path as the sun. "Its rising and setting positions on the horizon change constantly due to the movements of Earth and the moon," Space.com reported.

The Chimney Rock (Colorado) Interpretive Association explains further: "The moon’s orbit of Earth oscillates or wobbles, gradually causing the moon to rise at different points on the horizon over the years. The entire cycle of wobbling north to south and north again takes 18.6 years.

"At each end of its swing, the moon appears to pause for about three years, rising at the same point on the horizon before beginning to move back toward the opposite end of the swing. This pause is known as a major lunar standstill."

When is the full moon?

December's full moon will reach peak illumination on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 4:02 a.m. EST, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Why is it called the cold moon?

December’s full moon is most commonly known as the cold moon, which is "a Mohawk name that conveys the frigid conditions of this time of year when cold weather truly begins to grip us," the Old Farmer's Almanac said.

NASA agrees, adding that "the cold moon gets its name because December is the month when it really starts to get cold, although our coldest average temperatures are in January."

It's also called the 'long night moon'

Another name for the December moon is the long night moon, due to its proximity to the winter solstice, which marks the longest night of the year.

The winter solstice this year is Saturday December 21 at 4:19 a.m. EST.

When is the first full moon of 2025?

January’s full moon, the first of 2025, will rise on Monday, Jan. 13. It’s dubbed the wolf moon, since wolves’ howls were more likely to be heard during winter, per the Almanac.

Contributing: Cailey Gleeson, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Iris Seaton, The Asheville Citizen Times

 

 

 

 

 

vvbv

The full Cold Moon December 7th at 11:08 EST

Welcome Full Cold moon, the close of another year, in the still and cold of winter's nights there begins the journey into a new year.  However it does seem odd that we should be ushered into the coldest and darkest months of the year, with much light and festivity, is it like Autumns bright foliage, a promise, encouragement, a reminder that the dormant landscape of winter will give way to the Spring and a chance to begin afresh?  I feel that it is.  

If like me you begin your wintering-over season and new year on the first of November, you are already well into the quiet of dormancy, and looking forward, and inward.  But no matter, it's all good.  Before the Full Cold moon ushers us into the next trip around the sun it brings us to the Winter Solstice, the days have that have been getting shorter and shorter, that will reverse.  A change will be apparent long before Gaia even begins to stir in her sleep, a reminder of the warmth to come, a reminder to share the warmth and glow we could be kindling in ourselves. 

The Full Cold Moon is also the Moon before Yule, celebrate it also,share with those in need even if you only have some change to spare share it, put it in the red kettle. Expand your world, let your light shine, share a smile. Yes, I do know how trite that can sound, but I also know how good it can feel.  Store up the joy you share to carry forward into the new Year and beyond, by sharing it.

Remember at this cold and dark time of the year is good time to spend with you thoughts, and your dreams. A very personal time, of rest and re-creation.  One cannot serve from an empty plate., so it is important to take time to do so, you know what lifts up your life and fills you plate, fills your soul. The earth may appear stagnant and even dead, but thee are roots growing, buds forming, yes! you got the idea.

On a cold, still winter night, I often go out into the yard and experience a rush of energy, that is until my old bones remind me that is really cold out, then I return to the warmth of the old stoker.

To rest is not always to rust.

 

BlackBlackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

  Lennon and McCartney