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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Bluespotted ribbontail ray
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Chilling out in the Arctic
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Happy birthday to Crater Lake National Park
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It’s surströmming time
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River Quoich in Aberdeenshire, Scotland
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Road-trip worthy attraction in the heartland
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Macro photograph of a migrant hawker dragonfly
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Happy World Photography Day!
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Happy Mother s Day
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World Art Day
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Train crossing the Tadami River in Japan
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Construction workers resting above Manhattan
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Wat Sri Sawai in Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand
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Dressed to impress
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Vacuum Chamber 5 at Glenn Research Center
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Even nature needs a backup plan…
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3,000 years of history
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A cliff-hanging complex of temples
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The glowing waters of the Matsu Islands
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Twas a night just like tonight
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Spring comes to Glacier National Park
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In Apia Harbor for Samoan Independence Day
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A fortress in the sky
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Kagami-ike, Nagano, Japan
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Moselle River loop near Kröv, Germany
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Death Valley National Park, California
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World Water Day
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The Hermitage of Santa Justa
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Happy Father s Day
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Lake Peipus, Estonia