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Credit & Copyright: Giorgia Hofer
and
Dario Giannobile
(Pictores caeli)
Explanation:
On the night of December 15, the
Full Moon was bright.
Known to some as the Cold Moon
or the Long Night Moon, it was the closest Full Moon
to the northern winter solstice and the
last
Full Moon of 2024.
This Full Moon was also at a
major
lunar standstill.
A major lunar standstill is an extreme in
the monthly north-south range of moonrise and moonset caused by the
precession of the Moon's orbit over an 18.6 year cycle.
As a result, the full lunar phase was near the Moon's northernmost moonrise
(and moonset) along the horizon.
December's Full Moon is rising in this stacked image, a
composite of exposures recording the range of brightness visible
to the eye on the northern winter night.
Along with a colorful
lunar corona and aircraft contrail
this Long Night Moon shines in a cold sky
above the rugged, snowy peaks of the Italian Dolomites.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Moon
Publications with words: Moon
See also: