During the month of October we will be experiencing several different moon phases. We will be able to see the Waning Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon and New Moon.
During this time we will be able to observe the beautiful features of the Moon’s surface and see some of its incredible features like craters and mountains. It is best viewed about an hour or two before the Sun rises.
Waxing Crescent
As a moon moves around the Earth, its phase changes. There are eight different lunar phases: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter and Waning Crescent.
The waxing crescent is the stage that the moon is going through right now where only a small part of the moon is illuminated by the sun. This is a great time to look at the moon and see all of the different features on it.
Another great time to see the moon is during a waning crescent when the light side of the moon is receding. This will cause the light side of the moon to recede so that it will be closer to us and the horizon in the night sky, and will also make the moon look bigger.
On october 22 2022 the moon will be in a waning crescent phase when it will be close to the horizon in the night sky. This will cause it to be very bright in the night sky and it will look a lot bigger than it did on october 1 2022 when it was in a full moon.
Waxing Gibbous
The first full moon of fall 2022, known as the “Hunters’ Moon”, will rise on two successive evenings this weekend, October 8 and 9. Depending on your location and time zone, you may not be able to see it on any of these nights.
But you should be able to catch it on the other night. The Hunters’ Moon will peek above the horizon for about 15 minutes on each of those evenings, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.
During this phase, the illuminated fraction of the Moon’s disk is decreasing, as it nears the end of its cycle. As a result, it’s often easy to mistake this phase for a full moon – which occurs later in the cycle.
The next phase in the lunar cycle is called the “first quarter”, or “east quadrature” moon. During this stage, the illuminated part of the Moon’s surface is half that seen during a full moon. Then comes the “last quarter”, or “west quadrature” moon.
Full Moon
When you look up into the night sky on october 22 2022, you’ll see an orange full moon. That’s because the moon is in a Waning Crescent phase in the constellation Libra.
This phase is better viewed one hour or two before the sun rises and can be very magical. But be careful not to be fooled by the “Moon Illusion,” which makes the moon appear bigger during moonrise and moonset when it is still low on the horizon.
The October full moon has several traditional nicknames, including the Hunter’s Moon, the Travel Moon, the Dying Grass Moon, or the Sanguine or Blood Moon. All of these names originate with Native American Algonquin tribes in what is now the northeastern United States, NASA says.
The Travel Moon name might reflect the fact that birds and animals often migrate during this time of year to escape harsh winters. Meanwhile, the Dying Grass Moon and Sanguine or Blood Moon names might be associated with the changing colors of leaves during fall.
New Moon
The New Moon phase occurs when the night side of the Moon is facing Earth and a decreasingly thin crescent is illuminated. This phase is best viewed about an hour or two before the sun rises.
This Moon will be in Libra – the sign of love, relationships, and beauty. You may find yourself feeling more drawn to someone new, and this is a good time to explore a relationship if you are interested in it.
You’ll also want to watch out for any potential conflicts or disagreements in your personal life if you are involved with someone on a romantic level. This is a great time to avoid drama and focus on building your bonds with your friends or family.
This New Moon is also the first eclipse to hit our skies in a long while, so you can expect to feel more grounded and intuitive than usual during this time. But don’t let the mystical energy of this month’s new moon blind you from the repercussions of its powerful effects. Instead, take a few moments to focus on your spirituality and intuition to prepare yourself for this potentially challenging new lunar cycle.