Which reaches a higher point in our sky, the sun or the moon? The sun climbs nearly 80 degrees above the horizon on the June solstice. But on the nights of Dec. 15 and 16, the full moon will top it, reaching over 84 degrees at its peak around 12:39 a.m. Right now, the high point of the moon’s orbit lines up closely with where the sun peaks in June, putting this full moon about 5.1 degrees higher than the sun can reach. While the difference is slight, the moon will reach its maximum height in March, but at that time, its phase won’t be as bright — so December is a great time to see it.
Each month, Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory astronomer Eric McLaughlin spotlights a notable celestial event. For the best view of this high moon, head to the observatory to use a telescope. For details on observatory events, visit ranchomiragelibrary.org/observatory.
