- The Hunter’s Moon is the first full moon after the Harvest Moon.
- This year, moon watchers can also be on the lookout for the shooting stars of the Draconid meteor shower.
- Other nicknames for the October full moon include the Falling Leaf Moon, the Migratory Moon, the Drying Rice Moon, and the Frost Moon.
The Hunter’s Moon, the first full moon of the fall, will rise in the eastern sky around sunset on Sunday.
October’s full moon is called the hunter’s moon because it is the time of year when, historically, hunters began gathering food and storing it for the long, cold winter months ahead , according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
“Many moons ago, Native Americans called this moon bright for obvious reasons,” the almanac said. “The leaves are falling from the trees, the deer are getting fat and it’s time to start stocking up on meat for the long winter ahead.”
Other nicknames for the full moon
Other nicknames for the October full moon include the Falling Leaf Moon, the Migratory Moon, the Drying Rice Moon, and the Frost Moon.
The last full moon rose on Sept. 10, 12 days before the fall equinox, which marked the beginning of astronomical fall in the Northern Hemisphere, AccuWeather said. That full moon was known as the harvest moon, one of the most popular full moons of the year.
HARVEST MOON:The harvest moon will rise this weekend. What you need to know about the full moon.
The hunter’s moon follows the harvest moon
The harvest moon is the full moon closest to the September equinox. The Hunter’s Moon is the first full moon after the Harvest Moon.
The first use of the term “hunter’s moon”, cited in the Oxford English Dictionary, was in 1710.
What is the “moon illusion”?
As the moon drifts over the horizon around sunset, it may appear larger and orange, according to the almanac.
“But don’t be fooled by the ‘moon illusion,’ which makes the moon appear larger than it really is,” the almanac said.
Two years ago, the hunter’s moon fell on Halloween night, the first time there’s been a full moon on the spooky holiday since 2001. That won’t happen again until 2039, according to AccuWeather.
Watch out for meteorites, too!
This year, moon watchers can also be on the lookout for shooting stars in the Draconid meteor shower on Saturday evening, although the moon’s glow will make them difficult to spot.
