By — Jenny Marder Jenny Marder Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/on-christmas-a-rare-full-moon Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter On Christmas, a rare full moon Science Dec 25, 2015 4:04 PM EDT In December 1977, Jimmy Carter was president and George Lucas’ Star Wars, released six months earlier, had become the highest grossing film of all time. It was also the last time a full moon occurred on Christmas. Until today. Today marks the first Christmas full moon in 38 years, and it will be the last until 2034. Known as a full cold moon, the last of the year, it peaked Friday morning at 6:11 a.m. EST. John Keller is deputy project scientist for NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, which has been orbiting the moon, and studying the lunar surface since 2009. “As we look at the moon on such an occasion, it’s worth remembering that the moon is more than just a celestial neighbor,” Keller told NASA. “The geologic history of the moon and Earth are intimately tied together such that the Earth would be a dramatically different planet without the moon.” Here are some of the stunning photos snapped last night and today: 1st since 1977: Rare full Moon on Christmas day (PHOTOS) https://t.co/1CnSVL5p5D pic.twitter.com/HqEuO47Ij5 — RT (@RT_com) December 25, 2015 https://twitter.com/Nan_Shea/status/680486202831552512 Stepped outside quick to admire the beautiful #fullmoon on #Christmas, probably won't happen in our lifetime again. pic.twitter.com/ebgv4o2U5T — Heinrich Knoetze (@Instacptguy) December 25, 2015 Full Cold Moon tonight #iphoneography #fullmoon #FullMoonChristmas #loveneya pic.twitter.com/EZ95c1pCuR — Nia Maria (@Lunamir) December 25, 2015 A Rare Full Moon Lit Up The Sky On Christmas Day And It Was Beautiful https://t.co/eHjHxXZPwJ pic.twitter.com/r3VsSzivVS — BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) December 25, 2015 We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Jenny Marder Jenny Marder Jenny Marder is a senior science writer for NASA and a freelance journalist. Her stories have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post and National Geographic. She was formerly digital managing editor for the PBS NewsHour. @jennymarder
In December 1977, Jimmy Carter was president and George Lucas’ Star Wars, released six months earlier, had become the highest grossing film of all time. It was also the last time a full moon occurred on Christmas. Until today. Today marks the first Christmas full moon in 38 years, and it will be the last until 2034. Known as a full cold moon, the last of the year, it peaked Friday morning at 6:11 a.m. EST. John Keller is deputy project scientist for NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, which has been orbiting the moon, and studying the lunar surface since 2009. “As we look at the moon on such an occasion, it’s worth remembering that the moon is more than just a celestial neighbor,” Keller told NASA. “The geologic history of the moon and Earth are intimately tied together such that the Earth would be a dramatically different planet without the moon.” Here are some of the stunning photos snapped last night and today: 1st since 1977: Rare full Moon on Christmas day (PHOTOS) https://t.co/1CnSVL5p5D pic.twitter.com/HqEuO47Ij5 — RT (@RT_com) December 25, 2015 https://twitter.com/Nan_Shea/status/680486202831552512 Stepped outside quick to admire the beautiful #fullmoon on #Christmas, probably won't happen in our lifetime again. pic.twitter.com/ebgv4o2U5T — Heinrich Knoetze (@Instacptguy) December 25, 2015 Full Cold Moon tonight #iphoneography #fullmoon #FullMoonChristmas #loveneya pic.twitter.com/EZ95c1pCuR — Nia Maria (@Lunamir) December 25, 2015 A Rare Full Moon Lit Up The Sky On Christmas Day And It Was Beautiful https://t.co/eHjHxXZPwJ pic.twitter.com/r3VsSzivVS — BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) December 25, 2015 We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now