The last full moon of 2024 rises over the Dolomites in Italy./Courtesy of Giorgia Hofer, Dario Giannobile

On the night of Dec. 15, the moon hangs above the peaks of the Italian Dolomites. Known as the 'cold moon' or 'long night moon,' this full moon is the closest to the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the last full moon of the year. This particular full moon features the phenomenon known as 'major lunar standstill.' Lunar standstill occurs due to the moon's axial precession over a cycle of 18.6 years, reaching positions where it rises or sets at the most northern or southern points within a month. As a result, the full moon is near the northernmost lunar rise (moon set) along the horizon. A composite image with recorded brightness levels visible on winter nights in the north captures the full moon rising in December. The long night moon shines in the cold sky above the rugged, snow-covered peaks of the Italian Dolomites, accompanied by the vibrant corona of the moon and the contrails of aircraft. The moon's corona is a rainbow-colored ring that appears when moonlight shining through clouds is scattered by droplets or ice crystals.