This weeks Photo of the Week was taken Friday
(December 25, 2015 – Christmas Day)
Christmas Full Moon, photographed from the southern hemisphere
I know this is not the first image of the Moon to make it to ‘Photo of the Week’, but this was a special moon that deserves special attention (and status).
On Christmas night, this beautiful and rare sight was in the sky for the first time in 38 years – the first full moon to occur on Christmas Day since 1977. It was the last full moon of the year, and (I feel) more than deserving of being my last ‘Photo of the Week’ for 2015.
“As we look at the Moon on such an occasion, it’s worth remembering that the Moon is more than just a celestial neighbour, 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.”
John Keller, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre
It was so lovely standing outside with the world quiet, families settled for the night with the days festivities long finished, and simply gaze at this beautiful sight.
My friends who know me well, know how much I love the Moon, and to witness this rare event was a truly wonderful Christmas present. I was so pleased we had clear skies in Rockingham because the next Christmas Moon won’t occur until 2034.
What a beauty! Thank you for sharing! I hope Christmas was fantastic! Happy New Year!
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Thank you Nancy. I hope you had a lovely Christmas too 🎄
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They call this type of full moon a Cold Full Moon. That’s a great picture!
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Unfortunately there’s nothing ‘cold’ about it in the southern hemisphere.
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I think they call it that because it’s the first full moon of winter.
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In the northern hemisphere – yes. But it’s 42 degrees C here at the moment (107 F) and there’s nothing cold or winter-like about that 🙂 So jealous of your cold weather at the moment.
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Wow. This is spectactular. The detail really leaves me speechless. It reminds me of when Hitoshi and I went to Mauna Kea on the Big Island in Hawaii. We didn’t go to the very top… our car couldn’t handle the drive. But we spent a long time at the first station. Once it got dark, I was giddy after looking through a telescope at the moon. I couldn’t get enough and couldn’t pull my eyes away. Too bad for the lineup behind me! That memory will stay with me for a long time.
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Oh Hilary 🙂 I LOVE The Moon – I absolutely love it and I have to stop myself from always taking photos of it, but that hardly works because (did I mention that) I LOVE The Moon.
I remember and can relate significant aspects of my life and their connection to The Moon. It is my ruler and my compass, and (one day) where my soul will one day rest.
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When did your moon connection start?
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When I was six years old and watched Neil Armstrong walk on The Moon. Oh the memories.
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I can only imagine. 🙂
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Showing my age aren’t I?
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Nooooo! I was pondering how to make a smile of wonder and not a smile of smirk!
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I’m laughing here. 😀😀😀😀
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Forgot to ask… what did you use to take the photo? The detail…. swoon!
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Would you believe a ‘point and click’ Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70
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Wow! That’s amazing. Truly amazing. That’s one thing I miss on our camera… there’s no zoom. Well, up to 55 but not enough for the moon. 😀
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I know what you mean – I love my camera.
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