Everything to Know About October’s Hunter’s Moon. It just seems sense that the full moon this month would resemble a huge pumpkin in the sky! The Hunter’s Moon full moon in October will be lit and orange in color in contrast to the night. What’s best? It will be visible in its entirety for two nights in a row, providing twice as many opportunities to take in its jack-o’-lantern-like brilliance.
Since the autumnal equinox occurred on September 22, even though this time of year is known as the “spooky season,” the Hunter’s Moon actually represents the first full moon of the season. The moon in this month comes after the Harvest Moon in September. Each month has a full moon that corresponds to it, but the Harvest Moon is different since it can appear in either September or October.
The full moon that is closest to the fall equinox is given this name. According to EarthSky.org, if the Harvest Moon rises in October, the November full moon will be known as the Hunter’s Moon. (That’s anticipated to happen again in 2025.) Here are all the specifics on this month’s full moon, including when to look for it, the origin of its nickname, and everything else in between.
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, many of the names we give full Moons have their origins in Native American, Colonial American, or other traditional North American sources. The Harvest Moon and the Hunter’s Moon do not have a corresponding month, unlike the majority of full moons. They are seasonal moons because they coincide with the autumnal equinox.
The meaning of the Hunter’s Moon is the same regardless of whether it appears in October or November. It is thought that the name of the place denotes the time to go hunting in order to get ready for the upcoming cold season. The full moon in October has additional names, just like other full moons. They consist of the Ice Moon, Freezing Moon, Drying Rice Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, and Migrating Moon.
Why is the Hunter’s Moon so dazzling to the eye?
Be not deceived! Despite its beautiful, lighting appearance, the Hunter’s Moon isn’t truly brighter than other full moons. The “Moon Illusion” effect is to blame for this.
The moon will always appear larger and brighter when observers catch it as it rises over the horizon. There is no other viable scientific theory for the atmosphere. (This explains why it will be more difficult to see the Draconid meteor shower, which occurs the same night.) According to The Farmer’s Almanac, “when the Moon is high overhead, it is dwarfed by the enormous hemisphere of the skies and appears to our eyes as a little disk in the sky.”
When the Moon is low, on the other hand, it is seen in relation to earthly objects, such chimneys or trees, whose size and shape serve as a reference point. The Moon appears enormous when compared to nearby trees, structures, or other reference points in your brain.
When is the Hunter’s Moon in October?
The Hunter’s Moon will unfortunately be impossible to see on Sunday, October 9 at 4:54 p.m. ET since it will be at its brightest when it is below the horizon. Fortunately, that isn’t your only opportunity to see it.
In fact, there will be two chances for moon enthusiasts to admire the Hunter’s Moon’s splendor. Keep a watch out the night before and the night after, too, since the Hunter’s Moon will seem full for several nights in a row similar to September’s Harvest Moon. When is it best to watch? Sunset. The ideal location to watch? The horizon can be found anywhere.