October Hunter’s Moon reaches peak illumination

The Hunter’s Moon, named for historical autumn hunting traditions, will reach its peak brightness early Monday morning. Astronomers note that a full moon occurs when the Earth aligns between the Sun and the Moon, allowing the side of the lunar surface facing Earth to be fully illuminated by sunlight.

While October full moons are sometimes referred to as Harvest Moons, that designation is reserved for the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which fell in September this year. According to NASA data, lunar cycles follow predictable patterns, and a full moon landing specifically on Halloween is a rare occurrence that happens approximately every 19 years.

Observers looking to view the event do not need special equipment. The Old Farmer’s Almanac suggests that the best viewing conditions occur at moonrise on Sunday evening. The celestial calendar continues later this year with the Geminids Meteor Shower in mid-December and a supermoon event scheduled for late December.