Under the Cold Moon: One Year of OurNightSky
Thank You to All of You!
There’s a particular stillness to December nights as the temperature drops, the kind that settles over the pine trees, sharpens the air, and makes every star feel just a little closer. And this week, as we step into the light of the Cold Moon, I’ve been feeling that stillness in my bones, a call to slow down this season, not to let it slip away and get lost in the distractions that can pull us away from what this month really means.
The Cold Moon is December’s full moon, the final one of the year. Its name traces back to early Indigenous and colonial traditions, marking the time when winter’s grip tightens and the nights grow long and biting. It’s the moon of deep breath and deep cold, the moon that invites us to slow down, to listen, to remember what matters.
And maybe that’s why this particular Cold Moon feels so meaningful to me, because this week also marks one year since OurNightSky.us launched as a Substack publication.
One year.
Twelve lunar cycles.
Countless nights spent looking up, writing down, and sharing the quiet beauty of the heavens with anyone who felt drawn to join me.
When I hit “publish” on that very first post, OurNightSky had exactly zero members. Today, it has 237. That number humbles me, not because it’s large, but because it represents real people who have chosen to pause, breathe, and look up with me.
But I’ll be honest: I don’t measure the worth of this work by numbers. I never have.
Scripture reminds us that it’s never about the ninety-nine, it’s always about the one. The one heart encouraged. The one soul reminded of hope. The one person who needed a moment of wonder in a weary week. If even one person has found comfort, clarity, or connection through these reflections, then this entire year has been worth it.
The Cold Moon is a fitting companion for this anniversary. It’s a moon of clarity, of seeing things stripped down to their essentials. No leaves on the trees. No haze in the air. Just the stark beauty of creation, shining in the quiet.
That’s what I want OurNightSky to continue to be:
A place of clarity.
A place of wonder.
A place where science and faith meet not in conflict, but in harmony, like two notes of the same chord.
As we stand beneath the Cold Moon of 2025, I’m grateful. Grateful for the journey, grateful for the community, and grateful for the God who set these lights in the heavens as reminders of His faithfulness.
Here’s to another year of looking up.
Another year of finding meaning in the night sky.
Another year of choosing the one over the ninety-nine.
Thank you for being here, whether you’ve been with me since the first post or you joined just this week. You matter. Your presence matters. And I’m honored to share the sky with you.
Until next time, keep looking up!
-g
Amazing that it's been a year - not sure I've even been on Substack that long, but maybe. Once discovered, Our Night Sky fast became my favorite page! #BeBlessed🙏
Congrats on the one year! Love the Cold Moon vibes of this post.