Historically, many cultures have looked to the moon rather than the sun to help track the months and seasons—and they adopted special names for full moons throughout the year. That’s why, in the Northern Hemisphere, a full moon that appears in December is known as the Cold Moon, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, a nod to the chilly temperatures of winter. Various American Indian tribes have given it equally descriptive names, including the Long Night Moon, as it occurs near the winter solstice. Other Native American terms include Oak Moon, Big Spirit Moon, and Snow Moon. The Cold Moon of 2018 rises this evening about 15 minutes after sunset. And in case you’re wondering, the moonrise on our homepage image today was photographed over the Thunderer, a mountain in Yellowstone National Park, in Wyoming.
Night of the ‘Cold Moon’
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
A whale of a hug
-
Keep watching the skies
-
Flamenco dancers
-
Short-eared owl
-
An old celebration for a new season
-
In honor of those we ve lost
-
Veterans Day
-
A bison preserve
-
A history of Vinland
-
Invisible no longer
-
Playa del Amor, Marietas Islands, Mexico
-
Working for that cliffside view
-
Ready for takeoff
-
Humming along
-
International Museum Day
-
A species worth defending
-
A legend and a legendary home
-
St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland
-
Where the wildflowers grow
-
Stepping into autumn
-
Art and soul
-
Farmers Day
-
Harvest time in the Palouse
-
International Surfing Day
-
Boxing Day—a shopper’s delight
-
National Park Week begins
-
The Canary Islands, Spain
-
Nothing plain about it
-
Waiting for the perfect shot
-
Gray days ahead in Monterey