HARTFORD — It’s been an unusually warm December and our chances of a White Christmas are looking pretty slim. But, we are going to experience another natural beauty this holiday — a full moon!
The moon will reach its peak size at 6:11 a.m. Eastern on Christmas Day, Fred Espenak, an eclipse and moon expert with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, tells Weather.com.
That will mark the first full moon on Christmas since 1977, and it won’t happen again until 2034. The winter solstice, or shortest day of the year, occurs 3 days prior, on December 22 at 11:48 p.m. Eastern.
Experts say the timing of this year’s December full moon will mean best viewing throughout the U.S. will be on Christmas Eve.
If it’s a clear night, the full moon may provide a perfect backdrop to catch a glimpse of Santa and his reindeer.
