Full moon, Blue Moon, Last Eclipse of 2009

This is the second full moon in December for the Americas, Europe, Africa, and far-western Asia. And according to recent tradition, a second full moon in a calendar month has the name Blue Moon.

Will December 2009 have a Blue Moon?

Any time you see the moon near the horizon, it can have a reddish color. The reason the moon’s (or sun’s) light must pass through a greater thickness of atmosphere when rising or setting than when overhead. So any moon, full or not, may look reddish when seen near the horizon.

Moonset

Because the December full moon comes so early in the month, this month will have two full moons this year.

• First December full moon: December 1, 2009
• Second December full moon: December 30, 2009

Tonight’s moon, like any full moon, will be out all night long, lighting up the nighttime from dusk till dawn.

Side Note: What's a Blue Moon?

The second of two full moons to fall in a single calendar month is called a Blue Moon.

November Full Moon - The Hunter’s Moon

In the northern hemisphere, some people will call this November full moon the Hunter’s Moon, because this full moon is the one that immediately follows the Harvest Moon (Oct Full Moon). November full moon, like the full moon at any season, shines from sundown to sunup, and climbs to its highest point in the sky around midnight.

Legendary Harvest Moon Shines On Night of October 3-4, 2009

Perhaps the biggest of the entire autumn season – the legendary Harvest Moon shines on night of October 3-4, 2009

The moon reaches the crest of its full phase at Midnight on October 4 in the east Canada.

Is the September 3 full moon the Harvest Moon?

For the northern hemisphere, this September full moon is the last full moon of summer. For the southern hemisphere, it is the last full moon of the winter season.

Like any full moon, tonight’s moon lights up the nighttime from dusk until dawn. Like any full moon, tonight’s moon climbs highest in the sky around midnight. Watch it shine from dusk till dawn!

Moon and Giant Jupiter pair up on Sep in Toronto

The two brightest celestial bodies to light up these glorious September nights are the waxing gibbous moon and the extremely bright planet Jupiter. The Waxing Gibbous Moon is very nearly full and illuminated generally from the right.

Moon, Jupiter shine in Capricornus on Aug 6 & 7

Full moon, Jupiter from dusk till dawn August 5

August 5, the full Moon is having a close encounter with Jupiter. The two are so bright; you won't even need a sky map to find them.

The August full moon is often called the Sturgeon Moon in North America. the Full Sturgeon Moon to climb over your southeast horizon shortly after sunset. About a half hour thereafter, the blazing planet Jupiter follows the moon into the sky. Evening’s two brightest celestial luminaries keep each other company for the rest of the night.

2009 July 8 Full Moon

Full Moon in Toronto on Mother's Day May 10 2009

Biggest Full Moon in Toronto on Good Friday Apr 10 2009

Biggest Full Moon of the Decade in Toronto 中國情人節 (元宵)

The full moon that shines in the evening will be the brightest and biggest seen in the sky since 1993

Biggest Full Moon of 2009 Sat-Jan 10

It will be the biggest and brightest one of 2009, sure to wow even seasoned observers. It will appear about 14 percent bigger in our sky and 30 percent brighter than some other full moon during 2009, according to NASA. (A similar setup occurred in December 12, making that month's full moon the largest of 2008.)