On the night of December 15, the full moon illuminated the sky and presented an extremely bright sight. Known as the full moon closest to the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, this phase is also known as the “Cold Moon” or the “Long Night Moon”. It is also the last full moon of the year 2024.

During this full moon, the great lunar pause was also observed. The Great Lunar Pause is the period during the 18.6-year cycle of the lunar orbit when the rising and setting points reach their most extreme positions. Therefore, the full moon was very close to the horizon at the northernmost rising and setting points.

This image of the December full moon rising on a northern winter night was composited by recording the brightness of the Moon in different exposures. Decorated with a colorful lunar corona and aircraft trails, the view shows the Long Night Moon shimmering over the snowy and rugged peaks of the Italian Dolomites.

December 20, 2024 Astronomy Photo of the Day (NASA APOD)

Image Source & Copyright: Giorgia Hofer and Dario Giannobile (Pictores caeli)