Cold Moon Rises with Jupiter This Weekend

The Cold Moon is the last full moon of the 2024 calendar year and will rise higher in the night sky than any other full moon, nestled next to Jupiter.

This moon will be located in the constellation Taurus , surrounded by some of the brightest stars in the night sky and Jupiter. While it will be easily visible to the naked eye, a pair of binoculars or a small beginner's telescope will give you a great close-up view of the orange-hued surface of the Moon as it rises above the eastern horizon.

The Cold Moon occurs a week before the winter solstice. (Photo: Martin Ruegner).

Named the Cold Moon because it rises just a week before the Winter Solstice , the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, signaling the beginning of astronomical winter. It has also been called the Long Nights Moon and the Moon Before Yule , referring to a Pagan festival that coincides with the winter solstice.

Since the Moon will be opposite the Sun, the Moon will mirror the Sun's motion. When the Sun is at its lowest point in the southern sky during the day, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere, the Cold Moon will be at its highest point.

On the night of the full moon, the moon will shine below Capella in the constellation Auriga and above Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion, with Jupiter to its right. The largest planet will be clearly visible in the night sky all month long.

The cold moon also rises near the peak of the Geminid meteor shower , one of the most prolific meteor showers of the year. Unfortunately, the moon's glare will make spotting many of the meteors more difficult than usual.