Look Up: The Full Hunter Moon Peaks This Weekend—Here's How to See It
Get a glimpse of fall's first full moon this Sunday.
Fall is officially here—and so is the first full moon of the season. The Hunter Moon will peak this Sunday, October 28, but you can also view it on the nights leading up to and following that, too, EarthSky.org reports.
The Hunter Moon is always the namesake given to the full moon that follows the Harvest Moon (which peaked on September 10 this year). This is because the Harvest Moon is the closest full moon to the equinox, always appearing before or after it. If the Harvest Moon falls in October, the Hunter Moon will fall in November, which happens every three to four years.
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Since the Hunter Moon is so close to the autumnal equinox, the moon rises about 30 minutes later for several days before and after the full moon, according to EarthSky.org. This is because the moon's orbital path makes a narrow angle with the evening horizon around the time of the autumnal equinox.
The Hunter Moon gets its moniker because it is historically the time of year when hunters prepared for the cold winter ahead by collecting and storing food, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Other namesakes given to this natural satellite include Drying Rice Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, Freezing Moon, and Migrating Moon.
In some parts of the world, the Hunter moon will pass into earth's shadow, causing a partial lunar eclipse. The phenomenon will be visible in full in parts of Europe and Africa, according to Time and Date. In the U.S., however, the Hunter Moon will appear as a typical full moon—but it's still the perfect opportunity to celebrate fall's arrival.
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