There's something special about October's full moon.

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First Full Moon of Fall

Many times the first full moon of the fall season is the Harvest Moon, but this year the Harvest Moon actually fell before the autumn equinox, so this year Harvest Moon was the final full moon of summertime.  The Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox, so which moon comes after the Harvest Moon?  The Hunter's Moon is the moon that follows the Harvest Moon.   So why is it called the Hunter's Moon?

What is the Hunter's Full Moon?

The Hunter's Full Moon is the full moon that occurs after the Harvest Moon. The Hunter's Moon is sometimes referred to as the Sanguine Moon, or Blood Moon as well. The Farmer's Almanac explains the reason this moon is referred to as the Hunter's Moon is because it comes during the time of year that Native American tribes would begin storing meat and food for the winter ahead.

The Farmer's Almanac goes on to explain:

Because the fields were traditionally reaped in late September or early October, hunters could easily see fox and other animals that come out to glean from the fallen grains. Probably because of the threat of winter looming close, the Hunter’s Moon is generally accorded with special honor, historically serving as an important feast day in both Western Europe and among many Native American tribes.

When to See the Hunter's Full Moon

If you want to catch a glimpse of the Hunter's Full Moon (and the full moon that falls during the month of October which makes it a little spooky) this moon will peak on October 9th, 2022, but you can start looking for it in the sky on October 8th.  Alamanc.Com has more info the best ways to see the Hunter's Moon illuminating the skies, here.

If you need me on October 8th and 9th, I'll be outside looking up at the Hunter's Moon while listening to Hunter's Moon by Ghost.