The Christmas Moon 2015

There will be a full moon this Christmas for the first time since 1977. It will rise at 4:04 PM on Christmas Eve, reach the crest of its full phase (residing exactly 180 degrees from the sun in ecliptic longitude) at 3:11 AM on Christmas morning, and set at 7:35 AM. (All times Pacific Standard Time.)

That means Santa will be making his run this year in the light of the full moon.

There won't be another full moon on Christmas until 2034, so I hope you will be able to make the full moon a part of your Christmas Eve or early Christmas morning.

The December full moon is called the Cold Moon, for obvious reasons, or the Longest Night Moon, for its proximity to the Winter Solstice. But this year we can without hesitation call it what it is: the Christmas Moon.

"Moon" by Frederick Smock

The day lengthens, 

the old earth tips its hat 

to the moon.

The changeful moon 

goes through many phases, 

even in a single night, 

though it is the same 

moon as ever, we know this. 

We are the changes.

"Moon" by Frederick Smock, from The Bounteous World. © Broadstone Brooks, 2013.

The Sun Finally Came Out

So I took a little walk...

Lord Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise

Another precious day of the waning season gone without fishing.

Tomorrow will find me on the water for sure, Lord willin' and the creek don't rise.

Lessons of the Full Moon

I hope you can see it where you are. It's the next to last full moon of winter.

It's called the Snow Moon, or the Hunger Moon. Occurring this year on Valentine's Day, the name Hunger Moon seems more appropriate. Love is definitely a hunger. Definitely make sure you don't snow the one you love.

Be hungry. Be true.