Full moon

2022 - 12 - 7

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Bishop's Stortford Independent"

December's full 'Cold Moon' to be visible as temperatures fall (Bishop's Stortford Independent)

The last full moon of 2022 - aptly named a Cold Moon - will be visible as temperatures plummet below freezing.

Because the moon produces no visible light of its own we can only see the parts of it which are lit by other objects. This week's Cold Moon is expected to peak on Thursday morning at 4.08am. A full moon appears around every 29.5 days in the UK.

When is the full moon in December 2022? What Cold Moon in ... (NationalWorld)

Keen amateur astromomers will get the chance to witness a rare sight as Mars passes behind the moon on Thursday morning.

Initally, the moon will travel closer and closer to Mars throughout Wednesday evening. The last full moon of the year is also known as a ‘cold moon’. December’s full moon will coincide with the occultation periof.

December full moon and a bright Mars (Weather News - Follow weather live - Weather & Radar)

It's going to be a busy night for stargazers. That is if you can see the sky. Wednesday night's full moon is the last full moon of 2023. Also, the full moon will appear to eclipse Mars in an event called a lunar occultation.

The full moon will set around sunrise Thursday. The best viewing conditions for these celestial treats will be over the northern Great Plains, the Florida Peninsula, and Southern California. As long as weather conditions permit, this celestial event will be visible for most of the U.S., with the exception of the southern and eastern states. The full moon will rise around sunset and reach peak illumination at 11:09 p.m. Wednesday night's full moon is the last full moon of 2023. First, the full moon will appear just after sunset.

Astrology fans, it's time to get ready for December's Cold Moon (Stylist Magazine)

This full moon is also synced up with Mars, in what's known as a lunar occultation. This means that on 8 December, a bright Mars will appear to meet the moon in ...

According to the Leading up to the new moon and the next lunar cycle, the moon will rise an hour later each day and will be visible for less and less of the night. Deep sleep was, on average, 30% decreased around the time of a full moon. In the build-up to the Cold Moon, the moon rises an hour earlier each day. [Space.com](https://www.space.com/december-full-moon-rises-tonight-dec-07-2022), December’s Cold Moon has a higher trajectory than most, which means it will stay above the horizon for longer than many full moons. In fact, the so-called Cold Moon will rise at approximately 3pm today (7 December), reaching peak illumination in the UK at 4am GMT on 8 December.

December's full 'cold moon' to be visible as temperatures fall (New Milton Advertiser and Lymington Times)

The last full moon of 2022 – aptly named a cold moon – will be visible as temperatures plummet below freezing.