The 'cold' moon: A rare full moon is expected to rise soon after Christmas
CTV
Not long after presents are unwrapped and Canadians gather to celebrate the holiday season, a rare full moon will appear, shining the brightest on Boxing Day.
Not long after presents are unwrapped and Canadians gather to celebrate the holiday season, a rare full moon will appear, shining the brightest on Boxing Day.
The special phenomenon is also called the full Cold Moon or Long Night Moon.
A Christmas full moon normally happens every 19 years or so, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, an almanac containing weather forecasts, astronomical data and more. It last occurred in 2015 and after this December, it is expected to next happen in 2034.
It will be the first full moon after the winter solstice, which happened on Dec. 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and is the first day of winter or the shortest day of the year.
It's also the 13th and last full moon of the year, the Old Farmer’s Almanac notes online.
"To our eyes, the Moon’s disk will appear fully illuminated a couple of days before a full Moon, so start looking on December 24 and 25 towards the east after sunset as it peaks over the horizon," The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
From Dec. 25 to 27, the full moon will rise near sunset and it will appear high and full on Christmas Day, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac and NASA. The full moon is expected to be fully illuminated on Dec. 26 at 7:33 p.m. EST.
