The Hunter's Moon Is Another Supermoon

The Hunter’s Moon is the full moon after the Harvest Moon and normally appears in the month of October.

In the Northern Hemisphere the Hunter's Moon in 2024 rises on Thursday 17 October. Every four years it can appear in November but traditionally the Hunter's Moon refers to the full moon in October.

During the month of October the deer which had fattened up during the summer ready for the winter were tracked by the hunters using the light from the autumn moonlight, hence the name of Hunter’s Moon. The time between sunset and moonrise during the months of September and October is normally 30 minutes later each day and so farmers and hunters get more light to finish their work during these months.

Full moons in 2024
Wolf Moon - 25 January
Snow Moon - 24 February
Worm Moon - 25 March
Pink Moon - 23 April
Flower Moon - 23 May
Strawberry Moon - 22 June
Buck Moon - 21 July
Sturgeon Moon - 19 August (Blue Moon and supermoon)
Harvest Moon - 18 September (supermoon)
Hunter’s Moon - 17 October (supermoon)
Beaver Moon - 15 November
Cold Moon - 15 December

Why a full moon?

Full moons occur every 29.5 days or so as the moon moves to the side of Earth directly opposite the sun, reflecting the sun's rays off its full face and appearing as a brilliant, perfectly circular disk.

A full moon occurs when the moon's earth-facing side is completely illuminated by the sun. Scientists say that when you see the moon looking really large as it rises in the sky your brain is actually playing a trick on you.

There are many reasons as to why this is, but the main theory is that when the moon is low on the horizon it can be compared to earthly things, like buildings and trees, and this is why it seems huge.

Why a supermoon?

A supermoon is when you look up at the night sky and the full moon looks so close you feel as if you could almost touch it, although sometimes the difference is hard to spot with the naked eye.

This is called a moon illusion as the full moon appears much larger when it rises behind a distant object on the horizon.

When the moon is closest to the earth a supermoon occurs. A supermoon will appear 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual. A supermoon looks especially large when rising and setting.

The moon will be 30,000 miles closer than usual. It sounds a lot, but the average distance between the earth and moon is 238,900 miles, so it’s not that huge a difference.

If you go outside on the night of a full supermoon you should actually notice that it is exceptionally bright.

Tips for seeing a full moon

Moons rise in the east and set in the west
If viewing from inside your house it is best to turn off lights so as to view the night sky
If outside it is best to go somewhere high so you can see the moon rise above the horizon
Viewing outside is the best and away from street lights and light pollution

Can a full moon affect your sleep?

Because the moon affects the tides, it is often said that full moons can also affect us. Issues with our immune system can be caused by lack of sleep or disturbed sleep.

Some people find falling asleep harder during a full moon along with less time spent in a deep sleep. This lack of sleep can sometimes cause people to have worse headaches often called 'moon migraines'.

Moon facts and folklore

The moon's diameter is 2,160 miles
The sun and moon are not the same size
The moon is a lot smaller than the sun
The moon's surface is dark
The moon has quakes
There is water on the moon
The moon has a very thin atmosphere
A person would weigh less on the moon
The dark side of the moon is a myth
We only see the near side of the moon, the other side is the far side
Earth's moon is the only place beyond earth where humans have set foot. 12 people have been on the moon.

Why do full moons get different names?

Every month of the year there is a full moon which illuminates the sky, each of which is given a different name.

There are a total of 12 full moon phases during the annual lunar cycle plus the occasional Blue Moon and each full moon has a unique name.

The traditional names given to the full moons during the year are derived from the North American traditions. Many of these ancient moon names have been given based on the behaviour of the plants, animals, or weather during that month.

However the full moon names we now use also have Anglo-Saxon and Germanic roots.

The full moon in October should be visible in the sky after sunset for a couple of days either side of the peak. Let's hope the sky stays clear for a few days so we can see the Hunter's Moon.

The next full moon will rise on Friday 15 November and is the Beaver Moon, followed by the Cold Moon on Sunday 15 December.