NASAToday (December 21) marks the date of the winter solstice, and if that doesn’t sound mysterious enough then there are some beautiful celestial happenings going on.
Skywatchers can tonight look forward to a full moon as well as a meteor shower, quite a rare occasion indeed. The last Winter Solstice full moon took place in 2010, and we won’t see another one until 2094.
Cryogenic freezing options aside, I will most probably be dead by then, so tonight I am going to stare at this glorious, round Winter Solstice moon to my heart’s content.
The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year – with the sun setting at 3:53pm – meaning the days will now begin to gradually get a little longer. Suddenly those long summer evenings don’t feel another planet away…
As reported by Forbes, this time of year, a full moon is referred to as a ‘Cold Moon’ or the ‘Long Night Moon’ which sounds very mystical indeed.
As reported by Quartz, other names include ‘snow moon,’ ‘big spirit moon,’ and – my personal favourite – ‘unborn seals are getting hair’.
There will be a rare Full Moon on the Winter Solstice this year, the next occurrence will be in 2094. pic.twitter.com/egdxw33HXC
— Stonehenge U.K (@ST0NEHENGE) December 21, 2018
Today marks the start of the winter solstice, we'll see a full moon tonight and the Ursid meteor shower will be visible tonight and tomorrow night. @KetchmarkWCPO breaks it down: https://t.co/4Vz5Vjj5ih pic.twitter.com/lIqCeYMfXH
— WCPO (@WCPO) December 21, 2018
The Ursid Meteor Shower – which occurs each year between December 17 and December 24 – can be viewed both tonight and tomorrow night, and can be seen without the aid of a fancy telescope or pair of binoculars.
December 21 is regarded to be the peak time to get a glimpse, with EarthSky advising those interested to take a look in the mornings leading up to the peak of shower, ‘when there’s a window of darkness between moonset and dawn’.
The Ursid Meteor Shower is named after constellation Ursa Minor, on account that their position in the night sky makes it appear as if they are shooting out from it. Although this is just an optical illusion, it is still a spectacular sight to behold.
The shower is a result of Comet 8P Tuttle hitting the Earth’s atmosphere, forming debris. This creates up to five to ten shooting stars each hour.
Winter solstice, a full moon, and the Ursid meteor shower. It's going to be a good night. I hope wherever you are you have clear skies.
This is Newgrange in Co. Meath, Ireland, btw. pic.twitter.com/KVBnL4hPWQ
— Juli C. Lasselle (@JuliCLasselle) December 21, 2018
Today, December 21, 2018, is winter solstice, officially the shortest day of the year. As we celebrate the increasing daylight hours to come, look to the sky tonight and mark the occasion with the spectacular Ursid meteor shower and a full Moon. #WinterSolstice2018 pic.twitter.com/W0IuANzjd4
— Four Points Polaris (@4PointsPolaris) December 21, 2018
This is certainly the perfect evening to step out and look at the stars.
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