The first full moon of fall, known as the “hunter’s moon,” is one of the most recognizable astronomical events. October’s full moon is just around the corner and serves as a reminder.
Just before 5 p.m. on Sunday, people in Philadelphia can look into the sky and see an orange, glowing full moon. At 4:54 p.m., the full moon will reach its full illumination, and shortly after sunset, the “Hunter’s moon” will reach a peak nighttime shadowy glow.
“The Hunter’s Moon” is a special name for the full moon that comes directly after the “Harvest Moon,” the full moon that rises closest to the autumn equinox.
As spooky season swings into high gear, the Full Hunter’s Moon is slated to occur this weekend in the South Central Texas sky. The full moon officially crests on Sunday at 3:55 pm CDT, but won’t rise until later that evening in Central North America.
On Sunday, October 9, just before 5 p.m. ET, a full moon will reach its peak illumination, the US Naval Observatory’s Astronomical Applications Department said.
But the moon will still be below the horizon — you’ll need to wait until sunset to fully relish the hunter’s moon and its ghostly glow.
The Hunter’s Moon and the Harvest Moon are often noted for being bigger and appearing more yellow, or even orange, than other moon cycles. But this is a trick of the eye — and some cool science.
The best time to see the Hunter’s Moon first rising is around 6:40 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, when there is still enough daylight.
But if you miss it on Saturday, don’t worry — EarthSky predicts that the Hunter’s Moon will shine bright until about Oct. 11 in the Northern Hemisphere.
A full moon occurs when the moon is positioned opposite the Sun in relation to our view on Earth. Each full moon that occurs in a given year typically consists of different characteristics, all depending on the path that they take across the sky