For many, after the time change, the year seems to go downhill; the days are getting colder, and it gets dark at six in the evening… But the time change and the shift in weather have a silver lining: Halloween, the November holidays, and Christmas are just around the corner, and, what’s more, this Monday, October 26, the second full moon of fall—the Hunter’s Moon—will light up the night sky across the Northern Hemisphere (and, with longer nights, it can be enjoyed for longer).
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, different cultures in the Northern Hemisphere gave different names to the October full moon. NASA notes on its website that the name “Hunter’s Moon” is linked, in particular, to the traditions of various Native American peoples.
After the Harvest Moon (the full moon in September) and with the arrival of fall, it was time to hunt and gather provisions for the winter months. Furthermore, at this time of year, the moon rises almost at the same time as the sun sets. This increased light at dusk allowed hunters to extend their hunting days, while also taking advantage of the fact that the fields were clear after the harvest.
When is the best time to admire the Hunter’s Moon?
Today, October 26, the moon rises at 6:11 p.m. in Madrid, while dusk will fall at 6:19 p.m. According to the forecast from the Spanish Meteorological Agency, at 6:00 p.m. there will be high clouds, with a mostly clear sky, while from 7:00 p.m. onward and throughout the night, there will be no clouds in the sky to obscure the Hunter’s Moon.
Furthermore, since the moon will rise very close to sunset (and because its light will have to travel through a greater portion of the atmosphere), when the moon is near the horizon, it may take on orange or golden hues. That will be the perfect time to observe, with the naked eye, the second full moon of fall.
The next astronomical spectacle will be a supermoon, though we’ll have to wait until November 24 for that. That one will also have its own name: after the Hunter’s Moon, it will be the Beaver Moon’s turn.