Metro Vancouver sky-watchers have a final opportunity to bask under the silvery light of a full moon before the year is up — but there are no more eclipses this year.
Sadly, local lunar enthusiasts won't have another opportunity to view another total lunar eclipse until March 14, 2025.
Until then, however, there will be plenty of stargazing opportunities, including the peaks of two meteor showers in November.
The final full moon of the year is the "cold moon," which will be at its fullest on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 8:08 p.m. in Vancouver, according to timeanddate.com.
Full moon in 2022 December
Each year, December's full "cold" moon illuminates the night sky during the darkest days of the year, although they aren't always the coldest in Vancouver.
According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, some Native American groups call it the "long night's moon," because it occurs near the winter solstice—the day with the least amount of daylight.
The name "cold moon" became associated with the December full moon due to the month's frosty winter weather.
A Vancouver photographer has captured an awe-inspiring perspective of a total lunar eclipse in local skies — even though it was snowing during part of the rare astral event. Have a look at the photo and a timelapse of the eclipse.
