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
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Dalyan, Turkey
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It’s National Walk to Work Day
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Happy Cinco de Mayo!
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Casting a vote for women s history
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Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
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Let’s have a ball
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Great Backyard Bird Count
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Books for children of all ages
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Mangrove Conservation Day
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A unique elephant encounter in Nantes
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Blue linckia sea stars in Papua New Guinea
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A different view of sharks
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Everglades National Park marks 90 years
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Innerdalsvatna Lake, near Ålvundeidet, Norway
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Kelp buddies
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The mountain of 30,000 sakura
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Sundance Film Festival opens in Park City
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International Zebra Day
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The Millennium at 20
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The Crown of the Continent
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Sounds of Bach come to Bath
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Bohemian waxwings in Canada
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Celebrating Flag Day: ‘O long may it wave’
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Ahh-tumn
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Headed to the High Country
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Wyoming celebrates its statehood
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Happy New Years Eve!
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Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
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Craters of the Moon centennial
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Chicagohenge