Full Moon in December 2023 – Make sure to mark your calendars for the December Full Moon in 2023. It will be the last full moon of the year and is known as the Full Cold Moon.
This celestial event occurs when the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon, resulting in the Moon appearing fully illuminated. It happens approximately once a month or every 29.53 days on average.
When is the Full Moon in December – Dates and Names
Full Moon – December 26, 2023 EST on Tuesday or Wednesday December 27 UTC
Name of the Full Moon is Full Cold Moon.
Season of the December Full Moon
This name is fitting as it follows closely after Christmas and coincides with the arrival of winter, bringing colder temperatures. In addition to the Full Cold Moon, the December Full Moon is also known as the Long Nights Moon and the Oak Moon.
Full Moon in December 2023
The Long Nights Moon is named after the month in which it occurs, as December typically has the shortest day of the year. The Oak Moon is named after the oak tree, which holds significance in many cultures during this time of year.
The December Full Moon marks the beginning of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the first full moon of the winter season, which starts with the Winter Solstice on December 21st (December 22nd UTC) and concludes with the Spring Equinox in the year 2024 on March 19th Tuesday (March 20th UTC).
Full Moon in December 2023
The lunar cycle for the December Full Moon in 2023 will begin with its new moon on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 6:32 PM EST or 11:32 PM UTC.
This December new moon will also be the last new moon of the year 2023 and will be named as the New Cold Moon in Sagittarius zodiac.
The full Moon in December, known as the Cold Moon, will reach its peak brightness on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, at 7:33 P.M. EST.
Before sunset, you can start observing the full Moon as it gradually becomes visible above the horizon. Compared to other full Moons, December’s full Moon has a higher position in the sky, allowing it to remain above the horizon for a longer duration.
Why is the Full Moon in December 2023 Called Cold Moon?
To determine the precise time of its appearance in your location, you can refer to our Moon-rise Calculator. The term “Cold Moon” is derived from various indigenous American cultures, early American settlers, and other traditional sources that have been handed down over many generations.
These names were used to refer to the monthly Moons and the corresponding natural signs as a way to mark the changing seasons.
In modern times, the full Moon in December is commonly referred to as the Cold Moon, a name rooted in the Mohawk language.
It signifies the freezing temperatures that characterize this time of year, marking the true onset of cold weather.
About SuperMoon – Full Moon in December 2023
Although the 2023 December Full Moon will not be a supermoon, as it will be away from more than 360,000 kilometers, there will be two supermoons in the month of August 2023 and two additional full supermoons throughout the year 2023.
A supermoon occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to the Earth in its orbit, resulting in a larger-than-usual appearance. Unlike some other months in 2023, there will not be a lunar eclipse during the December Full Moon.
However, there were lunar eclipses during the May Full Moon (penumbral lunar eclipse) and the October Full Moon (partial lunar eclipse). In December 2023, there will only be one full moon, which is the Full Moon on December 26, 2023 Tuesday, at 7:33 PM EST or December 27, 2023 at 12:33 AM UTC.
It’s worth noting that some years may have two full moons in December, with the second one being referred to as a blue moon.
Dates and Names of the Moon in December 2023
2023 December Last Quarter Date – December 5, 2023 12:49 AM EST, December 5, 2023 5:49 AM UTC
December 2023 New Moon Date – December 12, 2023 6:32 PM EST, December 12, 2023 11:32 PM UTC
2023 December First Quarter Date – December 19, 2023 1:39 PM EST, December 19, 2023 6:39 PM UTC
Date of Full Moon 2023 – December 26, 2023 7:33 PM EST, December 27, 2023 12:33 AM UTC
Thanks for Reading “Full Moon in December 2023“.
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