While the final numbers won’t be known for December for another 10 days, there is one thing that’s absolutely predictable, this year there is a full moon on Christmas.

For the first time since 1977, the moon is going to be full on Christmas. Of course that is also the same year the original Star Wars movie was released, how much fun! If you are under 38 years old, this is the first full moon on Christmas in your lifetime. The next one won’t occur until 2034, I shuddered to think how old I will be by then.

While the release of Star Wars nearly 40 years ago was big, there was another full Christmas moon in American history and that occurred on Dec. 25, 1776. Historians tell us this was the exact night George Washington and his Continental Army famously crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania into New Jersey. We can imagine if it was clear the army used the moonlight to help with the crossing.
You likely have heard that the Native Americans gave each of the full moons a name. This month it’s called the cold moon, but within some tribes, this moon was called the Full Long Nights Moon.

December is of course the month with the longest nights and when cold typically establishes its winter grip. The Long Night Moon this month takes a very high trajectory across the sky because of the position it has in relation to the sun.

Moonrise Part 1
The show begins Christmas Eve at 4:02 PM when the moon rises in the eastern sky. I’ll talk about the weather conditions for this in a moment. The moon will be 99.7% full at that time becoming 100% full at 6:11 AM Christmas morning before setting at 6:55 a.m. in the west.

Moonrise Part 2
Christmas evening the moon rises full at 4:59 p.m. This mean it will be visible all night on Christmas before setting Saturday morning December 26th at 7:47 a.m.

Others have use the term the “Moon before Yule” (Yule is Christmas, and this year the Moon is full only just before it). While the moon is going to be up there, the weather needs to cooperate for us to view it.

Will The Weather Cooperate?
There is going to be a frontal system passing through the area Christmas Eve and while we will be enjoying record warmth, there will be a lot clouds. I think the moonrise on Christmas Eve is likely obscured by clouds. If the front keeps moving, you should see the full moon emerge during the night and moonset Christmas morning will be a nice show. The moon is full as it sets.

As high pressure builds into the region it will turn less warm for Christmas and skies will clear. This means the full moonrise on Christmas evening and the setting moon Saturday morning will be visible. Notice how high the moon is Christmas night. If we had snow cover to reflect some of the light it would really be stunning.

Finally, while the next one of these events is in 19 years, there are three more before the turn of the century. I won’t see all of them, but maybe you will. They are in 2053, 2072 and 2091.

I’ll update the forecast on Twitter @growingwisdom