If you're in New Jersey (and searching the skies for the notorious drones) you may have been distracted by the moon hanging unusually low and glowing golden near the horizon.
And though it's more of an illusion than reality, science can explain why you see it that way.
During the solstice, Earth's axis tilts farthest away from the sun, giving us the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
This tilt doesn't just impact sunlight; it also influences the moon's position. Around the solstice, the moon follows a much shallower path across the sky, meaning it rises and sets closer to the horizon.
For New Jersey residents, the result is a moon that appears to "hover low" for longer, adding to its already dramatic appearance.
The cold moon -- December's full moon -- occurred earlier this week, marking the final full moon of the year and adding to the size perception.
To make things even more mesmerizing, a trick of perception called the moon illusion comes into play. When the moon is near the horizon, our brains compare it to nearby landmarks like buildings, trees, or even the New Jersey skyline.
This comparison makes the moon appear much larger than when it's high overhead.
While the moon hasn't changed in size or distance, this optical illusion -- combined with its low position -- creates a spectacular and oversized effect.
The moon also has a golden or orange tone this time of the year.
When the moon is near the horizon, its light travels through a thicker slice of Earth's atmosphere, scattering shorter blue wavelengths and leaving behind warmer tones like reds, yellows, and oranges.
It's the same effect that paints sunsets fiery red but applied to the moon.
That moon illusion could also be partly to blame for some of the reported drone sightings.
The illusion can make distant lights -- like those from planes, helicopters, or even bright stars -- appear larger, closer, and more mysterious when viewed near the horizon, tricking the brain into seeing something more advanced or unusual than it really is.
And while there's no apparent end in sight for the drones, the moon will continue to look lower and bigger through the winter, moving higher in the sky as we approach spring.