For the first time since 1977, a full moon will light up the sky this Christmas Eve. Experts calculate the moon's peak will hit around 6 a.m. Christmas Day.
The rare event will not happen again until 2034. It's a perfect ending to quite the ‘astronomical’ year.
Other great sightings from 2015:
1. Blue Moon
The first blue moon since 2012 happened in late July, meaning that two full moons occurred within the same month. Several readers shared photos they captured during this "once in a blue moon" event.
2. The Perseid Meteor Shower
Although the Perseid Meteor Shower occurs every year, this year’s was especially spectacular, because its peak occurred during a new moon. This created the darkest sky possible during the event, allowing for prime visibility of the meteors.
3. Special Sighting of International Space Station
One night in August, stargazers were not only able to spot the International Space Station, but also a space supply vessel mere minutes later. This especially rare event was a result of the Japanese Space Agency launching the bright vessel on a five-day trip.
4. Super Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse
For the first time in three decades, a super moon coincided with a lunar eclipse in September, resulting one of the largest and brightest eclipses of our lifetime. In addition, this super moon was also a blood moon, giving the sky a strong, red hue, and making the event an even rarer one.
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