Moon Phases in October
October is full moon month, and on October 9 the Hunter’s Moon will reach peak illumination. It’s also known as the Harvest Moon for its association with the autumn equinox.
The lunar phases progress from new to full moon, first quarter, then to last quarter and back to new. Each lunar cycle takes about 13 days 22+1/2 hours.
New Moon
The new moon phase is a time of clarity and new beginnings, a time to set intentions that you want to see manifest in your life. It’s also a time of grounding and centering, so take some time to do some introspection and meditate on your goals.
October’s new moon is in the sign of Scorpio, so this astrological event will help you get clear about your priorities and goals. You’ll probably have some tough decisions to make, but they’ll be made with a lot of love and compassion.
As for relationships, this full moon will be a great time to reflect on your love life and decide whether or not you’re truly happy with the person you’re with. If you’re not, it may be time to consider dating someone new.
The new moon is also a good time to set goals and clarify what you want out of your career. Taking some time to mull over what you really enjoy can be a great way to kickstart your creative juices and start getting excited about your work again.
First Quarter
The first quarter of the Moon’s 29.5-day orbit around Earth is a defining moment in its cycle. This is one of four primary phases of the Moon, along with New Moon, Full Moon and Third Quarter Moon.
In this phase, a sky watcher sees half of the Moon’s daylit surface lit up (position 1 in the illustration). It is called the first quarter moon because it occurs halfway between a new moon and a full moon.
This is the most interesting phase of the moon, and it often brings out a beautiful visual effect. This is also the time of month when farmers can work longer into the night, reapeding their spring and summer harvests.
During this moon phase, ocean tides are strongest as the Moon and Sun pull the waters in opposite directions. This creates the smallest difference between high and low tide, known as neaps or neap tide.
This is a good time to get out and take a walk or go for a bike ride. A nice calming activity that can help clear away obstacles and start you on the path to realizing your goals.
Full Moon
If you’re a moon lover, there’s no better time to catch the full moon phase than this month. October’s “Hunter’s Moon” will be the first of the fall season, and it’ll reach peak illumination near the sunset.
The October full Moon is known as the Harvest Moon in some parts of the world, and this year it falls near the autumnal equinox. It also has other nicknames such as the Sanguine or Blood Moon, Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, and Falling Leaves Moon.
It will be easier to see the full Moon this year because the planet Mercury will be visible in the sky prior to sunrise, a day after it reaches its highest altitude and greatest elongation from the sun. This makes it easier to view for observers in the northern hemisphere, particularly in mid-northern latitudes.
The October full Moon is also the first of the season to appear whole for two nights, giving you double the chances to admire this jack-o’lantern-like glow. It won’t be as bright or dazzling as the Super Moon on July 2015, but it will still be impressive.
Last Quarter
The last quarter of october is called the Hunter’s Moon, harkening back to Native American and European hunting traditions where the full moon would often be used for tracking game. Though this full moon isn’t larger or brighter than other full moons, it will rise earlier, shortly after sunset, giving hunters plenty of light to hunt by.
This phase can be difficult to tell from a full moon because it occurs when the Moon is only 50% illuminated. It’s also referred to as the Waning Gibbous Moon.
If you’re looking for a good spot to watch this lunar cycle, try to find a place with no lights or glare and look up at the sky. You may be surprised at how much detail is on the moon!
The moon phases are determined by the way the Moon moves around Earth. This happens because the Moon rotates on its axis, so the illuminated portion can appear on either side or at the top or bottom of the Moon’s surface.
Waxing Crescent
The Waxing Crescent phase is the first phase after a new Moon and is seen best in the west, after the sun has dipped below the horizon at sunset. In this phase, a crescent-shaped illuminated area of the Moon begins on the left side and gradually fades to a small crater on the right.
The illumination of this part of the Moon can change as the phase progresses, and the illustration on our moon phases page may not be perfect as you go. But, it should be able to tell you which half of the Moon is lit up and how much.
This phase also has one of the strongest effects on Earth’s tides, because of the Moon and Sun’s gravitational pull. However, it has the smallest effect on oceans’ tidal bulges.
The waxing crescent is visible from most parts of the world, although it can be difficult to see in polar regions and from low-lying areas. As the phase progresses, a curved line called the terminator divides the illuminated part from the dark.
Waxing Gibbous
The moon slinks its way into the evening sky on a regular basis during the month of October. The waxing moon is a bit on the small side but not without its charms. The main drawback is that the moon only appears about once per day and the next moon cycle comes along soon after. The best times to see the moon are around 10PM and 6AM if you’re lucky enough to live in a metropolis with a low population density. Those with a good sleuth will be rewarded with some of the most spectacular lunar displays on record. The moon is a bit on the small side and the best time to catch a glimpse of the moon is around 6AM and 10PM if you’re lucky enough to live near the equator.
Waning Crescent
During a waning crescent phase, the illuminated side of the Moon is getting closer and closer to the Earth, while the dark side is still facing outward. This sliver of the Moon can be seen rising in the east after midnight, and still visible in the morning and day sky until it sets before sunrise.
This intermediate Moon phase occurs about a week after the first sliver of the Moon is lit up at the New Moon, and lasts until the following Full Moon. It starts with a thin crescent of illuminated Moon that grows into a Waxing Crescent until it fades away at the Third Quarter, where it is half illuminated, and then fades into a Waning Gibbous before it finally disappears from view at the Full Moon.
In this phase of the lunar cycle, the Moon is in the middle of its orbit around Earth, and therefore changes its appearance a little bit every night and week. This is an effect called lunar libration, which is subtle to the naked eye but apparent in time-lapse photography.
Waxing Millenium
The waxing millenium phase, also known as the first quarter phase, is an impressive sight to see in the evening sky. During this time, the Moon is just above the horizon in the eastern sky at sunset, then sets just before sunrise about six hours later.
When astronomers talk about the first quarter phase, they’re referring to the fact that the illuminated portion of the Moon’s disk is about half as big as it is during the full Moon phase. This is because during this first quarter phase, the Moon is closest to Earth in its orbit around the sun.
In the Northern Hemisphere, we’re more likely to see the full and last quarter phases, but the waxing millenium phase is the most impressive. It involves a very large percentage of the illuminated portion of the Moon’s surface and is a sight to see in its own right. The other impressive omen of the millenium phase is the fact that it is the most significant phase of the lunar cycle.