Don’t Miss the Spectacular Partial Lunar Eclipse of 2023
Editor’s note: The partial lunar eclipse of 2023 is over but you can see amazing video of its peak here. Read our wrap story for more stunning lunar eclipse photos.
The full Hunter’s Moon is set to offer a spooktacular show this weekend with a partial lunar eclipse. This eerie event will be visible to observers in Africa, Europe, Asia, and parts of Western Australia. The eclipse will begin at 2:01 p.m. EDT on Oct. 28, and you can witness it live on Space.com starting at 3 p.m. EDT. Check out our guide to find out exactly when to look up.
During the eclipse, the Hunter’s Full Moon will rise around 5:19 p.m. local time in New York City, just after the sun sets at 5:53 p.m. Little ghosts and goblins can enjoy the moon’s light until it sets at 08:14 EDT the following day. This Hunter’s Moon will be even more special, with the moon appearing like a bite has been taken out of it.
Top Telescope Pick: Celestron Astro Fi 102
See the moon up close! We recommend the Celestron Astro Fi 102 as the top pick in our best beginner’s telescope guide. Don’t forget to also grab a pair of binoculars to catch bright Jupiter shining alongside the moon.
After the Hunter’s Moon, the moon’s illuminated face will gradually diminish, heading towards the dark new moon on Nov. 13. This marks the start of a new lunar cycle lasting approximately 29.5 days.
The Hunter’s Moon gets its name from the early 1700s when hunters would pursue game animals like deer, turkey, and pheasants during mid to late Autumn. However, there are other names associated with hunting, such as the “Sanguine Moon” or the “Blood Moon,” popular in Pagan and English Medieval traditions.
Various indigenous cultures also have their own names for October’s full moon. For the Anishinaabe people, it is Binaakwe-giizis or the Falling Leaves Moon. The Cree Nation refers to it as Opimuhumowipesim or the Migrating Moon, as it coincides with the migration of birds. The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois / Mohawk) call it Kentenha or the Time of Poverty Moon.
In November, the full moon, also known as the Beaver Moon, will be named differently by different cultures. The Algonquin call it the “Moon of Much White Frost On Grass,” while the Assiniboine Nation refer to it as the “Frost Moon.”
If you want to catch a glimpse of the Hunter’s Moon, be sure to check out our guides on the best telescopes and binoculars to get you started. And if astrophotography is your thing, don’t miss our tips on photographing meteor showers and our recommendations for cameras and lenses.
Editor’s Note: If you snap an image of the Hunter’s Moon and would like to share it with Space.com’s readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to [email protected].
