When can you see the 'full cold moon' of 2022? The last full moon of the year falls this week

The December full moon may have been referred to as the Oak Moon or the Moon before Yule by European settlers in the United States. Yule is the old name for Christmas. The full moon of this month will reach its maximum brightness around 11.08 pm Eastern on December 7, which means those in eastern North America will be able to see it at its absolute highest point in the sky. In other words, going outside in the chilly weather will be worth it.

You can also see a nearly full moon on December 6 or December 8 if the sky is clear. There won't be much of a difference, and you can still view the shapes on the surface with your eyes, binoculars, or a tiny telescope. We observe a full moon in our sky once every 27 days. A full moon occurs when Earth is between the Moon and the Sun, which in turn stay in exact opposition to one another. The average magnitude of a full moon is -12.92, making it six times as bright as a half moon.

According to Livescience.com, the dimmest stars that most people can see in gloomy skies are around magnitude 6, while bright stars only become as bright as almost -2. The next full moon will be at its brightest at 6.09 pm Eastern on Friday, January 6, 2023. January’s full moon is also known as the Wolf Moon.