The very last full moon of this year has risen into the night sky ending this year with a lunar treat. Onlookers have been awakened to this winter moon early this morning, December 28, at around 5:21 a.m. To the naked eye, it already had been looking full for the past couple of days, hence a disregard for its exact date or time. This full moon was an instantaneous event that happened when the moon was directly opposite the sun.

The full moon always imitates the sun’s pathway for around six months, rising around the sunset and setting around the sunrise. Last midnight, the moon was seen at its highest, resembling the positioning of the noonday solstice sun last June.

With clear skies and temperate worldwide regions, the moon has been shining from dusk till dawn. Within the Northern Hemisphere, the full moon’s path resembled the high-flying summer solstice, while in the Southern Hemisphere, its path followed the low arching of the sun seen during the winter solstice.

This last full moon is called the Long Night Moon due to the duration of nighttime in the Northern Hemisphere. If you looked close enough, you’ll have noticed a bright star next to it. That was Jupiter, which was closest last Christmas night.