There's a Moon Out Tonight

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, Gave a lustre of midday to objects below, When what to my wondering eyes did appear, But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.  

 

-'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Clement Clarke Moore         

photo - NASA

The full moon you will observe in the heavens this evening is called the Full Cold Moon.  It is characterized by the arc of its trajectory across the sky which allows it to appear above the horizon for a longer period of time. 

Because of its close association with the winter solstice - and the shortest of daylight hours - native people called this the Long Nights Moon.    

For your best view of this beauty be sure to catch the moonrise tonight.  The Moon will attain its peak of fullness twelve minutes after midnight - coincidentally 12:12 AM on 12/12. 

Fingers crossed for clear, cold viewing tonight.

Edit to add - Moonrise from only a short while ago...

click on image for a closer look