The last full moon of the decade rises tonight just after midnight, on 12/12 at 12:12am. That’s going out with a bang.
December 12. At 12:12. That’s pretty cool indeed.
Full moons are an astronomical phenomenon that occur roughly once a month when the Earth is positioned between the sun and the moon. When this happens, the face of the moon that we can see is fully illuminated by our star, appearing like a perfect circle.
Technically the term “full moon” refers to the specific moment when the Earth’s only natural satellite is directly opposite the sun.
Coming in at 12:12am on 12/12 is a rarity, however, the best time to view the full moon will be just as it rises above the eastern horizon on December 11—around 4:20 p.m. EST.
According to the Farmers Almanac, December’s full moon is known by many names, most commonly the “cold moon” by some Native American groups, not surprisingly, because temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere tend to be low at this time of year.
“This full moon is distinctive for its high trajectory across the sky, causing it to sit above the horizon for a longer period of time,” according to the almanac.
The number 12 has unique significance throughout the world. For instance, there are 12 months of the year, 12 zodiac signs and there are 12 hours on a clock face, the almanac notes.
