December's full moon — the cold moon of the long winter nights, near the solstice. The lore, why it rides so high, and how to see it.
The name comes from the simple fact that December brings the cold and the dark. Falling near the winter solstice — the longest nights — it was also called the Long Night Moon and the Moon Before Yule. Because it sits opposite the lowest Sun of the year, it climbs the highest and stays up the longest of any full moon.
The December full moon is the mirror image of June's: opposite the lowest winter Sun, it takes the highest arc of the year, riding nearly overhead and staying above the horizon for the longest stretch of any full moon. High and clear, it floods the long winter nights with bright silver light.
Get a closer look
A beginner telescope or good astronomy binoculars bring the Moon's craters and phases into stunning detail.
Telescopes & binoculars on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, Furiosa Studio earns from qualifying purchases.