Cold Moon: Don't Miss The Last Full Moon Of 2020

The last full moon of 2020 is happening ths week. Is it actually the last full moon of the decade?

December 2020's moon will turn full at precisely 10:28 p.m. EST on Tuesday, NASA said, so those who would like to view the moon turn full at that moment should convert the time to their own time zones. This is because in other parts of the world, the full moon's peak illumination will actually land on Wednesday.

This month's full moon also will be rather special because of its high trajectory, which means it will be above the horizon for a longer time compared to other full moons.

Traditionally, it is the full moon that brings much needed light to a season with less daylight. As The Old Farmer’s Almanac explained, this full moon is commonly known as the Cold Moon, a Mohawk name that pertains to the cold temperatures at this time of year. It's also known as the Long Night Moon, because the nights are longer at this time of year close to the winter solstice.

Other names for the upcoming full moon include the Frost Exploding Trees Moon, Moon of the Popping Trees, Snow Moon and Winter Maker Moon.

Last Full Moon Of The Decade?

So will it be the last full moon of the decade, or the last full moon of the first year of the new decade? According to EarthSky, many people considered last year's December full moon to be the last full moon of the decade, but "purists" insist that the decade ends in 2020 and not in 2019.

For instance, the '80s is believed to start from New Year's Day in 1980, but then there was no year zero for a decade to start with round years. There is a little bit of a debate on the matter, although Time and Date does note that, in essence, both are actually correct.

But regardless of what one considers this week's full moon to be in terms of which decade it's really in, it is certainly the last for 2020.