This year’s winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere falls on Friday, Dec. 21st. The winter solstice is extra special this year as the upcoming December full moon, named the Cold Moon, will be visible in the night sky along with the Ursid meteor shower.
The winter solstice, also known as midwinter, is the shortest day of the year and the longest night of the year. It occurs when the sun appears at its most southerly position. This astronomical event officially arrives Friday at 5:23 p.m. EST. At this time of year, each day is about 24 hours, 30 seconds long, as Earth is nearing its closest point to the sun in its elliptical orbit.
December full moon
This year’s full cold moon lines up well with with the winter solstice on the 21st, with its peak midday on the 22nd. The longest night of the year coincides with a full moon for the first time since 2010.
This will not occur again until 2029. The moon will appear full both Friday and Saturday nights.
Ursid meteor shower
The Ursids are an annual event, beginning around Dec. 17 and running until just after Dec. 25. They get their name from the constellation Ursa Minor, because of their position in the night sky—they appear to come shooting out from it. The American Meteor Society says the Ursids should be visible in the mid-Northern Hemisphere. At the peak there should be about 11 sporadic meteors per hour just before dawn.