December Full Moon 2024 — Cold Moon Puts on Dazzling Show for Skywatchers Worldwide (Photos)

On December 16, 2024By Littum

December’s full moon captivated skywatchers worldwide as it lit up the cold winter sky over the weekend.

A full moon occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of Earth from the sun. December’s moon officially reached full illumination at 4:02 a.m. EST (0902 GMT) on Dec. 15, but it will still appear relatively full for a few days around the peak.

December’s full moon, known as the Cold Moon, gets its name from the long, cold nights of the Northern Hemisphere winter. It rose on December 15th and looked big and bright as it climbed above the horizon, making for a breathtaking sight for night skies and photographers alike.

To celebrate this celestial spectacle, we’ve collected some of the most stunning full moon photos from around the world.

Photographer Lokman Vural Elibol captured the full moon rising behind the Edge at sunset in New York City.

full moon behind the rim visitor attraction in new york city, with people standing out on the platform.

Full moon next to the Edge, New York City. (Image credit: Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, photographer Gary Hershorn captured the beautiful New York skyline along with the December full moon.

full moon appears behind the New York skyline

A full moon rises behind One Vanderbilt and the Empire State Building as the sun sets over the Midtown Manhattan skyline in New York City (Image credit: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

Photographer Abdullah Guclu timed this image perfectly to capture an airliner passing in front of the cold moon from Ankara, Turkey on December 14.

close-up of full moon against blue sky and a plane flying below it

Full moon and airliner. (Image credit: Abdullah Guclu/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Photographer Ismael Adnan Yaqoob captured this beautiful scene from Duhok, Iraq, as the full moon emerges from behind a rocky hilltop.

full moon appears large and bright behind a rocky hilltop. People are silhouetted against the moon while standing on the rocky hill.

Full moon rising over a craggy hilltop, Duhok, Iraq. (Image credit: Ismael Adnan Yaqoob/Anadolu via Getty Images)

In Turkey, photographer Omer Urer took this moody photo of several birds perched on a tree in front of the full moon on December 14.

full moon behind silhouette of small birds sitting on branches.

Full moon shines photographed from Turkey. (Image credit: Omer Urer/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Photographer J. David Ake was well positioned to photograph the last full moon of 2024 rising behind the Washington Monument, Washington DC, on December 14.

full moon on top of the Washington Monument with silhouetted trees in the foreground framing the image.

The full moon sits atop the Washington Monument. (Image credit: J. David Ake/Getty Images))

In Spain, despite cloudy skies, photographer Davide Pischettola managed to capture the full moon near Castel del Monte in Andria, Apulia, on December 14.

December full moon appears behind clouds above a castle and trees.

Full moon over Castel del Monte in Andria, Spain. (Image credit: Davide Pischettola/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Clouds descended over most of the UK this weekend, preventing most views of the last full moon of the year. This evocative photo by David Tramontan captures the moon just peaking through the clouds at sunset from Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK

full moon behind pink, purple and gray clouds with silhouetted trees in foreground.

Full moon behind clouds, Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK (Image credit: David Tramontan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

It seems that Tramontan’s luck with the clouds changed as the photographer also managed to capture a stunning close-up of our lunar companion.

full moon close up showing the moon against a black sky.

Full Moon from Ely Cambridgeshire, UK (Image credit: David Tramontan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Photographer Soumyabrata Roy captured the full moon peaking through some vegetation on December 15 from Tehatta, India.

full moon in the center of the image framed by palm-like leaves that are slightly out of focus and in the foreground.

Full Moon from Tehatta, India. (Image credit: Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, photographer Anuwar Hazarika captured the cold moon rising over some vegetation from Morigaon district in Assam, India.

orange colored full moon behind silhouette of vegetation.

December full moon from Assam, India. (Image credit: Anuwar Hazarika/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In Italy, the full moon was the star of the show in Rome. Photographer Filippo Monteforte captured the cold moon shining brightly over the Trinita dei Monti church in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna on December 15.

full moon shines over a street covered in Christmas lights

Full moon over Trinita dei Monti church at Piazza di Spagna in Rome. (Image credit: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)

Monteforte was also well positioned to capture the full moon through a Christmas tree in Piazza di San Lorenzo in Lucina, Rome.

full moon shines in a heart of light on top of a Christmas tree

A full moon joined the festivities in Rome, Italy. (Image credit: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)

In Macedonia, photographer Robert Atanasovski took this lovely shot of the full moon shining alongside winter decorations in Skopje.

full moon shining over an out of focus blue festive light decoration.

Full Moon also joined the festivities in Macedonia. (Image credit: ROBERT ATANASOVSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Photographer Juan Barreto captured this stunning close-up of the cold moon from Caracas, Venezuela, on December 15.

close-up of full moon partially blocked by vegetation

Full moon from Caracas, Venezuela. (Image credit: JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images)

Photographer Tayfun Coskun captured this stunning image of the December full moon rising over San Francisco Bay, behind the San Mateo Bridge in Foster City, California, USA

orange full moon behind clouds rising over a bridge.

December’s full moon shines over the San Mateo Bridge, Foster City, California, USA (Image credit: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

TOP TELESCOPE CHOICES:

Celestron NexStar 4SE telescope on white background — (Image credit: Celestron)

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If all this full moon content has inspired you to take a more in-depth moonlit tour of our rocky companion our ultimate guide to observing the moon will help you plan your next skywatching project, whether it’s exploring the moon’s seas, mountainous terrain, or the many craters that cover the landscape. You can also see where astronauts, rovers and landers have ventured with ours Observation Guide to Apollo Landing Sites.

If you’re looking for a telescope or binoculars to observe the moon, our guides to the best binocular deals and the best telescope deals can now help. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can also help you prepare to capture the next skywatching sight on your own.