This Year's Winter Solstice Features Full Moon, Meteors

MICHIGAN — Today’s winter solstice is slated to be a special one, according to meteorologists. Friday marks the first full day of winter and there’s a full moon and meteor shower lighting up the skies over the next couple days.

The full moon, called the Cold Moon, according to CNN, will happen Dec. 22 but to the average eye, the moon will appear full for several days, reports say.

The Ursids meteor shower should be visible in the mid-Northern Hemisphere, according to the American Meteor Society. The skies are expected to be at least partly cloudy the next few nights around Southeastern Michigan, however, so visibility may be limited.

The moon is also expected to be so bright that it may dim the lights of the meteors, meteorologists suggest.

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, it happens when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn.

Weather forecast via weather.gov. Image via Shutterstock