Here's how to catch the 'cold moon' in Calgary, the last full moon of 2020

It's been a year fraught with challenges and struggles, and the next few days will bring many "lasts" of 2020 and one of those lasts will be visible in the skies above Calgary this evening.

"I'm sure we're all glad this year is coming to an end," saidCBC Calgary'sStarman, Don Hladiuk. "The last full moon of 2020 will be rising right after sunset in the eastern part of the sky."

We want to see your photos of tonight's cold moon!Emailcalgaryphotos@cbc.ca, or tag @CBCCalgary onInstagram.

The "cold moon" or the "full cold moon" will reach its full phase at 8:28 p.m., Hladiuk said.

"It has many other monikers, or descriptive names. It can also be known as the 'ice moon' or the 'wolf moon.' But I think cold moon is very descriptive for our part of the world here," he said.

High path across the sky

Full moons are always impressive as they rise or set in the sky, Hladiuk said, especially when they are low to the horizon.

But tonight's moon will be impressive as it charts a course across one of its highest paths in the sky.

"If Ido a little bit of astronomy here, the sun makes a path across the sky that we call the ecliptic, and the moon follows that same plane, more or less," Hladiuk said.

During a full moon, the moon is positioned opposite to the sun, with the Earth between which is why one side of the moon is all lit up.

"So as the sun is setting, the moon will be rising this evening," Hladiuk said."Now, when it's rising in the wintertime, because the sun makes such a low path across the sky, the moon is opposite that, so it'll be making a very high pass.

"In fact, this will be one of the highest paths across our sky for the year 2020. So you're going to see this moon all night long, all through this long winter night, and it's going to be so impressive."

Photography tips

Many folks like to snap photos of a full moon, especially as it is rising or setting.

If you have a digital camera,Hladiuk said, you should ensure to steady your camera. You can do this using a camera tripodor even using something like a tree trunk anything that will steady the camera.

When you press your shutter button, that can be a big source of vibration. Hladiuk said he recommendsphotographers use a self-timer or a cable release.

Hladiuk said those interested can even use smartphones, as the moon is very well lit when it's rising.

"There are apps you can download [for taking darker exposures]," he said. "But you may not even need to use something like thatbecause the moon is so bright."

• If you take photos of tonight's full moon, send them to us atcalgaryphotos@cbc.ca, or tag @CBCCalgary onInstagram.