Full Cold Moon Kiss to Appear This Week: How to Watch it

As we about to bid goodbye to 2019, we're near the "full cold moon kiss", this year's last rear planetary event.

Every year the calendar does end with a cold moon -- the name given to the year's last full moon that takes place in December -- 2019's comes with a slight twist. The 2019 full cold moon will come with a planetary "kiss" between Saturn and Venus, reports Forbes.

First, let's understand why the December full moon is called the full cold moon before we discuss this rear phenomenon. So, the reason behind this is during this time of the year; there is a drip in temperature. Earlier, according to Travel and Leisure, this full moon was also called the long nights' moon by some Native American tribes and the moon Before Yule in Europe.

And why is it called "kiss"? This year's moon will be visible on the December 11 night through the morning of December 12. Still, the same night will also see Venus and Saturn appear closer than usual in the night sky. The two will be less than 2 degrees apart and share a celestial longitude. This phenomenon is known as a conjunction or a planetary "kiss."

For those who are interested, they can catch a sight of the phenomena on the night of Wednesday, December 11 as well, which will reach peak illumination at 9:12 pm on the West Coast and 12 minutes after midnight on the East Coast.