The first full moon that appears in October is called the Hunters Moon, it appeared over Newport, RI on Sunday, October 16th.
The Hunters Moon, which is the first moon after the Harvest Moon, is named as the preferred month to hunt summer-fattened deer and fox unable to hide in now bare fields. Like the Harvest Moon, the Hunters Moon is also particularly bright and long in the sky, giving hunters the opportunity to stalk prey at night. Probably because of the threat of winter looming close, the Hunters Moon is generally accorded with special honor, historically serving as an important feast day in both Western Europe and among many Native American tribes.
The Hunters Moon of October is sometimes referred to as the Blood Moon or Sanguine Moon, as the Native Americans named this bright moon for obvious reasons. Other names for this full moon include the Travel Moon and the Dying Grass Moon.
The next Hunter’s Moon will occur on October 5th, 2017.
