Hunter’s Moon: How it gets its name

The Hunter’s Moon will dazzle the night sky tonight, shining big and bright across the Northern Hemisphere.

The moon officially became full at 12:45 p.m., but doesn’t rise until 7:12 p.m. for Dayton.

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Every full moon is given a name from folklore that explains something about the season or month in which it falls.

The Harvest Moon precedes the Hunter’s Moon. Before electricity, as daylight hours decreased into autumn, farmers relied on moonlight to help harvest their fields in the evening. That is why traditionally the September full moon is called the Harvest Moon.

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In October, once the fields were reaped, hunters could easily see deer and other animals that might typically hide within the crop, and that is why this full moon is termed the Hunter’s Moon.

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