See the Rare and Beautiful ‘Full Cold Moon’ this December in South Dakota and Minnesota Skies

The final full moon of 2022 is called the Full Cold Moon

Life can get so busy we forget to stop and look up at the great wonder above.

When it's crisp and cold it is especially nice to bundle up, have a hot cup of hot cocoa or even a hot toddy (zero judgment here) and look to the sky.

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I can lose myself looking for the constellations and let's not forget the beauty of a full moon! Every month the full moon has a different name and for different reasons.

Coming up in December is the final full moon of 2022 and it's a Cold one. No really, that's what it's called the Full Cold Moon. Shocker, the reason being as described by Time and Date:

December is the month when winter truly begins in most of the Northern Hemisphere. Most of the ancient Full Moon names are related to the low temperatures and darkness of December. The most common name is the Cold Moon...

They add that this full moon is also known as the Long Nights Moon, and Anglo-Saxons in Europe would call it the Moon Before Yule.

Gary Boyle, The Backyard Astronomer from Canada, adds that this full moon and the planet Mars will be doing something special,

Be sure to look at Mars the night before on December 7 as the Full Cold Moon will cover Mars for a little less than one hour. All of Canada as well as much of the US except for Alaska and the Southeastern states will see an amazing occultation.

 

During its monthly orbit around the earth, the moon moves its width every hour across the background stars. It covers stars as seen through a telescope for as much as an hour and in rare events, does so with bright planets. This should be a fantastic photo opportunity as the disappearance and later reappearance should be quite evident.

 

We can see this rare full Cold Moon in South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota on December 7!

As long as there isn't a bunch of cloud coverage or winter storm going on, we know in this part of the world how that can ruin a good sky gaze. But either way, keep on gazing and stay warm.