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 late fall 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 1:02 AM on Sunday the 15th.
...and the sun sets at 4:45 PM and the moon rises at 5:02 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...
- Bill of Rights Day (United States)
- Homecoming Day (Alderney)
- Kingdom Day (Netherlands), moves to December 16 if the 15th is on a Sunday
- Zamenhof Day (International Esperanto Community)
On this day...
- 1791 – The United States Bill of Rights becomes law when ratified by the Virginia General Assembly.
- 1893 – Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World" a.k.a. the "New World Symphony") by Antonín Dvořák premieres in a public afternoon rehearsal at Carnegie Hall in New York City, followed by a concert premiere on the evening of December 16.
- 1939 – Gone with the Wind (highest inflation adjusted grossing film) receives its premiere at Loew's Grand Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
- 1960 – Richard Pavlick is arrested for plotting to assassinate U.S. President-Elect John F. Kennedy.
- 1970 – Soviet spacecraft Venera 7 successfully lands on Venus. It is the first successful soft landing on another planet.
- 1978 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter announces that the United States will recognize the People's Republic of China and sever diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan).
- 2001 – The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after 11 years and $27,000,000 spent to stabilize it, without fixing its famous lean.
Notable births...
- 1832 – Gustave Eiffel, French architect and engineer, co-designed the Eiffel Tower (d. 1923)
- 1892 – J. Paul Getty, American-English businessman and art collector, founded Getty Oil (d. 1976)
- 1907 – Oscar Niemeyer, Brazilian architect, designed the United Nations Headquarters and the Cathedral of Brasília (d. 2012)
- 1933 – Tim Conway, American comedian, actor, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2019)
- 1954 – Mark Warner, American businessman and politician, 69th Governor of Virginia
- 1972 - Rodney Harrison, American football player and sportscaster
- 1991 - Conor Daly, American race car driver
Notable deaths...
- 1878 – Alfred Bird, English chemist and businessman, invented baking powder (b. 1811)
- 1890 – Sitting Bull, Hunkpapa Lakota tribal chief (b. 1831)
- 1944 - Glenn Miller, American bandleader and composer (b. 1904)
- 1962 - Charles Laughton, English-American actor, director, and producer (b. 1899)
- 1966 - Walt Disney, American animator, director, producer, and screenwriter, co-founded The Walt Disney Company (b. 1901)
- 2009 – Oral Roberts, American evangelist, founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association (b. 1918)
- 2013 - Joan Fontaine, British-American actress (b. 1917)
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 2025
Monday, January 13 at 2:27 PM
Wednesday February 12 at 5:53 AM
Thursday, March 13 at 11:55 PM
Saturday, April 12 at 5:22 PM
Monday, May 12 at 9:56 AM
Wednesday, June 11 at 12:44 AM
Thursday, July 10 at 1:37 PM
Saturday, August 9 at 12:55 AM
Sunday, September 7 at 11:09 AM
Monday, October 6 at 8:48 PM
Wednesday, November 5 at 5:19 PM
Thursday, December 4 at 3:14 PM