This gives 13 full moons this year instead of the usual 12.
The red planet approached its closest point to Earth earlier in October, and it is still shining bright in the night sky
The first full moon of October was the harvest moon of October 1, and the second was the rare blue hunter full moon of Halloween.
While the moon will not actually appear blue, the second full moon in one month is commonly referred to as a blue moon. This happens every 2.5 to three years, or “once in a blue moon”.
Previously, a blue moon was known as the third or fourth full moon In one season.
The next moon after the harvest moon is usually known as the hunter’s moon – when hunters used moonlight to hunt prey and prepare for the winter.
While a blue moon appears rare, a Halloween full moon across time zones is a rarity – an event that hasn’t happened since 1944.
However, a full moon on Halloween occurs every 19 years in some time zones, so you can expect a full moon of Halloween again in 2039, 2058, 2077 and 2096.
The Halloween full moon will rise at 10:49 AM ET on October 31, which explains why the moon appears across time zones.
We get it. This is an odd weekend. This has been the year of the pandemic, there is a full moon on Halloween and the time changes the next day – and Tuesday is US Election Day.
Each month of 2020 brings its own surprises, which can be compared to the real Jumanji game “Well, I wasn’t expecting that.”
To help you calm down and carry on, we suggest star gazing. Look out this weekend to see the full moon and Mars and enjoy the wonders of the night sky.
