December’s rare cold moon, which only occurs once every nineteen years, will be visible to sky gazers tonight. The final full moon of the year will move across the skies tonight, but with a very infrequent twist.

The “cold moon” - a phenomenon that happens every 18.6 years - will rise at 3.20pm (GMT) on Sunday and set at 9.44am (GMT) on Monday. It will shine alongside the Geminid meteor shower, which peaked between 13 and 14 December but ends on 20 December.

December's Cold Moon—the last full moon of the year—will appear in the sky overnight and coincide with a rare lunar event in which observers can see it rise and set at its most extreme points on the horizon.

After back-to-back supermoons in August, September, October and November, we're back to a regular full moon in December. But the December full moon is not insignificant, coming as it does in proximity to the winter solstice.

The grave tells the story of an ancient warrior lost to time.

The Cold Moon on December 15, 2024, will coincide with a rare major lunar standstill, offering extended visibility. This event, occurring every 18.6 y

Everything you need to know about the full “Cold Moon” including exactly when, where and how to see it at its best from where you are.

The popular nickname “cold moon ” originated from native American tribes, in this case the Mohawks, which gave a name to each full moon throughout the year to help track the seasons. The cold in the December nickname refers to the dropping temperatures that start taking hold as the winter season starts.