The full moon (tatkresiwok - Inuit) occurs when the Sun and the Moon are on exact opposite sides of the Earth every 29.53 days. This lunar phase is known by many different names, cultures, religions and languages, depending on the month it occurs. This early winter full moon occurs in December and is known as the Big Moon, Oak Moon, Long Night's Moon, or Full Cold Moon.
The full moon for the month of December is at its fullest at 4:33 PM on Tuesday the 26th.
...and the sun sets at 4:48 PM and the moon rises at 4:27 PM.
This is just about the best night to view the moon at its fullest after it rises today! Come join us for a meet-n-greet in the evening and to watch the full moon rise over the treetops of Claremont
The event begins at 4:30 PM and the event will officially end by 6:00 PM, but there may be some early birds and lingering about into the night.
Please do bring your bugs and coins for trading, discovering, or just to show them off. There are no food or beverage establishments nearby, but there is a bathroom, although we can't guarantee if it will be open after dark. On warm days, there are usually some cold beverages and the pizza stays hot! If you plan on bringing something to share, be sure to post it in a note. Please remember to dress appropriately for the temperature and weather conditions, as this event is outdoors and rain or shine. The terrain is mostly cement and wheelchairs have access to the venue from the south end of the parking lot. You may want to bring blankets and/or camp chairs.
It is interesting to note that often, calendars indicating moon phases may be off by a day when intended for use in a different time zone. Don't be late or you just might miss out on this magical time as the sun sets and the full moon rises.
Today is...
- Boxing Day (Commonwealth of Nations)
- Independence and Unity Day (Slovenia)
- The first day of Kwanzaa, celebrated until January 1 (United States)
- The second day of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity)
On this day...
- 1776 – In the Battle of Trenton, the Continental Army attacks and successfully defeats a garrison of Hessian forces.
- 1799 – Henry Lee III's eulogy to George Washington in congress declares him as "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen".
- 1898 – Marie and Pierre Curie announce the isolation of radium.
- 1919 – Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox is sold to the New York Yankees by owner Harry Frazee, allegedly establishing the Curse of the Bambino superstition.
- 1944 – George S. Patton's Third Army breaks the encirclement of surrounded U.S. forces at Bastogne, Belgium.
- 1966 – The first Kwanzaa is celebrated by Maulana Karenga, the chair of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach.
- 2004 – The 9.1–9.3 Mw Indian Ocean earthquake shakes northern Sumatra with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). One of the largest observed tsunamis, it affected coastal and partially mainland areas of Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia; death toll is estimated at 227,898.
Notable births...
- 1863 – Charles Pathé, French record producer, co-founded Pathé Records (d. 1957)
- 1893 – Mao Zedong, Chinese politician, Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (d. 1976)
- 1921 – Steve Allen, American actor, singer, talk show host, and screenwriter (d. 2000)
- 1939 – Phil Spector, American singer-songwriter and producer (d. 2021)
- 1942 – Gray Davis, American captain, lawyer, and politician, 37th Governor of California
- 1954 - Ozzie Smith, American baseball player and sportscaster
- 1971 - Jared Leto, American actor and musician
Notable deaths...
- 1909 – Frederic Remington, American painter and illustrator (b. 1861)
- 1963 – Gorgeous George, American wrestler (b. 1915)
- 1972 - Harry S. Truman, American colonel and politician, 33rd President of the United States (b. 1884)
- 1974 - Jack Benny, American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, and violinist (b. 1894)
- 2004 - Reggie White, American football player and wrestler (b. 1961)
- 2006 – Gerald Ford, American commander, lawyer, and politician, 38th President of the United States (b. 1913)
- 2013 - Paul Blair, American baseball player and coach (b. 1944)
Note: If you are feeling sick, it is asked that you wait to attend in person events. Anyone who has Covid-19 symptoms, who has been in recent contact with a positive case, or might think they have been, is asked to not attend the event for the safety of themselves and others.
For Planning Purposes - Full Moon Dates for 2024
Thursday, January 25 at 9:54 AM
Saturday, February 24 at 4:30 AM
Monday, March 25 at 12:00 AM
Tuesday, April 23 at 4:49 PM
Thursday, May 23 at 6:53 AM
Friday, June 21 at 6:08 PM
Sunday, July 21 at 3:17 AM
Monday, August 19 at 11:26 AM
Tuesday, September 17 at 7:34 PM
Thursday, October 17 at 4:26 AM
Friday, November 15 at 1:28 PM
Sunday, December 15 at 1:02 AM