Full Hunter's Moon

On Sunday, October 13, at 5:09 pm EDT, the full moon occurs. The Moon will appear full for about three days from Saturday morning to Tuesday morning.

The full moon of October, traditionally called the Hunter's Moon, is also known as the Blood Moon, Sanguine Moon, Travel Moon, or Dying Grass Moon. It is believed that Full Hunter's Moon got its name because this was a time of year to go hunting and prepare for the long winter. The full moon of October rises earlier, soon after sunset, which would give hunters plenty of bright moonlight to hunt during the early evenings.

The October moon shines in or near the stars of constellations Cetus and Pisces. Since it’s opposite the sun on this day of the lunar month, the full moon rises at sunset and sets at sunrise. Due to the fact that it rises around sunset, the full moon of October may appear a little brighter and more orange than a normal full moon.

This full moon will be the first full moon of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and the first full moon of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. By definition, the Hunter’s Moon is the first full moon after the Harvest Moon. As a result, the name "Hunter's Moon", unlike most other full moon names, is not tied to a specific month and can be used for full moons that fall in October or November, depending on the year.

Enjoy the sky and learn about the latest astronomical events in time with Star Walk 2!