December 'Cold Moon' to peak Tuesday night

The last full moon of 2023 is slated to reach its peak Tuesday night, observers say.

The moon appears full for three days from Monday evening through Thursday morning, according to NASA.

But it will be at its brightest by 7:33 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, which includes zip-code specific moon rise times.

The full moon is unique for its high-sky trajectory compared to the low sun. The moon remains above the horizon longer than any other point in the year because of this, according to NASA.

Jupiter and Saturn will also be visible on Tuesday night as the moon emerges after the sun fully sets and twilight ends at 5:56 p.m., NASA said.

The December full moon is sometimes referred to as the "Cold Moon" or the "Long Night Moon" — names derived by Native Americans referring to seasonal temperatures and the nearby winter solstice, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

Metro Detroit is on the land of three Anishinaabe nations, some of whom refer to the moon as Little Spirit Moon, according to Ojibwemowin language scholars on Ojibwe.net.

Next month, the full moon is called the "Wolf Moon" and should peak on Jan. 25, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.