The first full moon after the Harvest Moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon. This year it is set to rise at approximately 7:00 PM on Sunday October 13th in Western Pennsylvania. Folklore says that after farmers harvested their crop’s they turned their attention to wild game to pack meat away for the winter. Native Americans called this moon the Travel Moon and the Dying Grass Moon. According to the Farmer’s Almanac the Hunter’s Moon is not tied to a specific month but follows the Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox.
This year the Hunter’s Moon will appear larger than normal and orange when it rises. As the full moon rises it will be low on the horizon and your eyes will view it in relation to objects on earth. This will trick your brain into thinking the moon is larger than normal. This is not to be confused with a supermoon. Supermoons are a different animal. The moon will also appear orange when it rises into the sky because when it is on the horizon it is farthest away from you. The earths atmosphere filters out the shorter wavelength “blue light” and what you see is the longer wavelength “red light”. As the moon continues to rise it will get closer and you will begin to see the blue light and the moon will turn back into its normal color.
To see the moon, get to a high area unobstructed by trees and buildings and away from as much light pollution as possible There are few things on earth left untouched by mankind, by watching the moon though we can see the world as the Native American’s and our forefathers saw it, and if just for a moment, go back in time. It gives us a chance to realize that our wild places are worth protecting for our grandchildren and great grandchildren much the same way I am sure our forefathers felt about the world when they looked at the Hunters Moon. So, take a moment and gaze at the night sky and enjoy the show nature has prepared.
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