For the first time in 38 years there will be a full moon shining down on us this Christmas. The previous full moon on Christmas fell in 1977, the year the first Star Wars was released and Jimmy Carter was in the White House. Take the opportunity before opening presents to step outside and appreciate our unique place in the solar system.
You can witness the moon at its peak at 6:11 a.m. EST on Christmas Day if you are too excited to sleep. If you miss this one, you’ll have to wait another 19 years until 2034 to witness the next full moon on Christmas. NASA has calculated that a more uncommon occurrence, a Christmas lunar eclipse will next occur on December 25, 2531. However, if you’re not keen on waiting that long, you can view a solar eclipse on Christmas day 2307 instead.
If you happen to see the Christmas Day full moon, post a comment here and let us know what you think.
Featured Image: In this handout image provided by NASA, a perigree full moon or supermoon is seen on August 10, 2014 in Washington, DC. According to NASA, the supermoon appears 30 percent brighter and 14 percent bigger than normal. (Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)