What causes a milk moon?
A milk moon refers to the full moon in October. It gets its name from the ancient Native American tribes who named each full moon to help track the seasons. October’s full moon was known as the Full Hunter’s Moon or the Travel Moon because it was the ideal time to hunt and store food for winter. It was also called the Milk Moon because it coincided with the time of year when cattle were at peak lactation and there was a plentiful supply of milk.
The milk moon is caused by the moon being in full phase, meaning the entire face of the moon appears illuminated from Earth’s perspective. A full moon occurs roughly every 29.5 days when the moon is completely illuminated by the sun as viewed from Earth. This happens when the Earth is directly between the sun and the moon. As the moon orbits around the Earth, we see varying amounts of the illuminated side of the moon. During a full moon, we see its entire sunlit side.
Lunar phases
The different phases of the moon are caused by the changing angles of the Earth, moon and sun. As the moon orbits around the Earth, its position relative to the Earth and sun changes. We see this as the moon going through phases from new moon to full moon and back again about every 29.5 days.
| Phase | How it looks | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| New moon | Not visible, sky is dark | The moon is between the Earth and sun so the side facing us is not illuminated |
| Waxing crescent | Thin sliver illuminated | We see a small part of the illuminated side of the moon as it orbits around the Earth |
| First quarter | Half illuminated | We see half of the illuminated side of the moon |
| Waxing gibbous | More than half illuminated | We see most of the illuminated side of the moon as it continues orbiting |
| Full moon | Fully illuminated circular disk | The illuminated side of the moon entirely faces the Earth |
| Waning gibbous | More than half illuminated | The illuminated portion of the moon appears to shrink each night |
| Third quarter | Half illuminated | We again see half of the illuminated side of the moon |
| Waning crescent | Thin sliver illuminated | The illuminated portion continues to shrink as the moon progresses in its orbit |
During a full moon, the moon rises as the sun sets and sets as the sun rises. This means we see the full illuminated side of the moon all night. The October full moon’s special milk moon name comes from its seasonal connection to dairy cows and milk production rather than any astronomical difference.
When is the milk moon visible?
The milk moon is visible on the night of the October full moon. In 2023, the full moon falls on October 9th, so the milk moon will be visible from moonrise on October 9th until moonset on October 10th.
To view the milk moon, simply look for the moon on the night of October 9th. The moon will appear as a bright, full circular disk in the night sky. For optimal viewing, find an open area away from tall buildings and trees. The moon will rise in the east around sunset, reach its highest point around midnight, and set in the west around sunrise.
Moonrise and moonset times
To find the exact moonrise and moonset times for your location, refer to a moon phase calendar or check the weather forecast. For example:
| City | Moonrise | Moonset |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 6:47 pm | 7:03 am |
| Chicago | 6:05 pm | 6:24 am |
| Los Angeles | 6:22 pm | 6:24 am |
| London | 6:32 pm | 8:11 am |
| Tokyo | 5:14 pm | 6:11 am |
The milk moon will be visible from moonrise to moonset wherever you are located on the night of October 9th, 2023. Try to view it as it rises for optimal viewing. But if it’s cloudy at moonrise, check again later in the night as the moon climbs higher into the sky.
What does the milk moon look like?
During the full milk moon phase, the moon appears as a bright, glowing white-yellow disk in the night sky. When the moon is low on the horizon, it may appear orange or red due to the scattering of light through more atmosphere. This is sometimes called a “blood moon.” As the moon rises higher, it will turn its usual pale white and cratered features will become visible.
The milk moon does not actually give off any milky white light – its visual appearance is the same as any full moon. The milk reference comes solely from the timing of this full moon during a historical month of abundant milk production.
With no clouds and optimal viewing conditions, even small lunar craters should be faintly visible to the naked eye during the full milk moon phase. Binoculars or a telescope will provide an even closer look at lunar features. The moon’s cratered highlands and dark, smooth basins are dramatic to examine on a bright full milk moon.
Moon illusion
An interesting visual effect called the moon illusion also makes the moon appear larger when it is near the horizon. As the moon is rising, it can seem enormous compared to when it is high overhead. In reality, the moon is no closer to Earth when it is on the horizon versus when it is directly overhead. The illusion is caused by our brains comparing the moon to other objects like buildings and trees when it is low. When high in the sky, there are no objects to reference its size.
Are full moons bigger and brighter?
Many people perceive the moon to look larger and brighter when it is full versus other phases. However, the full moon does not actually change in physical size or brightness. The moon reaches its full phase every 29.5 days when its entire face is illuminated by the sun from our perspective. This doesn’t make it bigger, closer or brighter – it just fully reflects the sun’s light back to Earth.
The moon stays the same distance from Earth throughout its orbit. Its phase changing from new moon to full is caused by the moon’s position relative to the Earth and sun, not by any physical transformations of the moon itself.
Why the full moon seems bigger
Several factors cause the full moon to seem especially big and bright:
| Factor | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Moon illusion | When the moon is low on the horizon, it appears larger relative to objects like trees and buildings. When overhead, there are no reference objects. |
| No shadows | Full illumination means no shadows across the moon’s face, so it looks round and full. |
| Clear skies | Full moons frequently have clearer skies free of clouds and rain. |
| Reflective surface | The full moon acts like a mirror and reflects more sunlight toward Earth. |
| Distance to moon | Some full moons do occur at the moon’s closest approach to Earth making it seem up to 14% bigger. |
So while the moon doesn’t physically change, several circumstances can create the impression that the full moon appears bigger and brighter than other phases. Keep these in mind as you marvel at the huge milk moon in October!
Special qualities of the milk moon
Aside from its seasonal significance, the October milk moon has some special astrological qualities that make it unique.
Closest full moon of the year
The milk moon falls very near perigee – the point in the moon’s orbit where it is closest to Earth. This means October’s full moon appears up to 14% larger in the sky compared to other full moons. The difference between the moon’s closest and farthest point is about 30,000 miles!
Rising tides
When the sun, Earth and moon align during a full moon, the combined gravitational pull causes the highest ocean tides of the month, called “spring tides.” During the milk moon, strong autumn tides along coastlines create excellent surfing conditions.
Hunter’s moon
The milk moon is also called the hunter’s moon since it offered light for hunters to continue tracking and spotting prey at night in preparation for winter. This was an important time for gathering food before harsh weather set in.
Festivals & events
October’s full moon has been celebrated in cultural festivals for centuries:
– Early Native American tribes held hunt festivals under the milk moon to celebrate bringing in harvests of meat for winter provisions.
– In early Anglo-Saxon times, the peasants held celebrations on the full moon to mark the end of the harvest season.
– For Buddhists, the milk moon festival celebrates blessings.
– The Hindu Navaratri festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil under the autumn full moon.
Lunar eclipse
A lunar eclipse can only occur during a full moon phase, when the moon passes into Earth’s shadow. Partial and total lunar eclipses are sometimes visible under the milk moon. While no eclipse occurs in 2023, the milk moon has coincided with eclipses many times in history.
The cultural significance of the milk moon
For centuries, the milk moon has held cultural and historical significance tied to its timing in the fall harvest season.
Native American traditions
The milk moon was one of the full moon names used by Algonquin tribes of the northeastern United States to keep track of seasons. The name reflected the importance of this autumn full moon to the tribes’ lifestyle. To them, the milk moon signaled the prime time for gathering meat to get through the winter and the vitality of mother animals who were feeding and sustaining their young.
During the milk moon, Native American tribes traditionally:
– Completed hunting needed to store sufficient food for winter
– Harvested corn and other crops before the deep cold set in
– Gathered drying herbs to use medicinally during winter
– Focused prayers and ceremonies on giving gratitude
The milk moon was considered the last chance to prepare for potentially life-threatening conditions of winter. Providing food and medicine for the difficult season ahead was critical.
European traditions
In Europe, the significance of the harvest full moon related back to medieval times when agriculture and farming culture dominated everyday life. Some traditions tied to the milk moon included:
– Crop harvesting – Farmers hurried to gather crops from fields by the light of the moon
– Preparing grain – Grains were cut and prepared for storage as bread flour over winter
– Baking bread – Ovens burned long hours to make enough loaves of bread for months
– Butchering – Livestock unfit for breeding were butchered and preserved
– Clearing fields – Fields were weeded and cleared to prepare for spring
– Pagan celebrations – The full moon was incorporated into harvest festival rituals
The rituals of autumn tied to the harvest full moon were critical to survival during winter in ancient European communities. These traditions and their links to the milk moon passed into folklore that survives even today.
Holidays & observances
The milk moon marks several annual holidays and observances still celebrated today:
– Jewish Sukkot – A weeklong Jewish harvest festival starting on the 15th day of Tishrei, which typically coincides closely with the October full moon.
– Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival – Also called the Moon Festival, it falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, timed by the Chinese lunar calendar.
– U.S. Columbus Day – Lands on the second Monday of October to commemorate Columbus’ arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492.
– Canadian Thanksgiving – Celebrated on the second Monday of October to give thanks for the harvest.
These modern holidays continue the tradition of marking the blessing of a successful harvest during the month of the milk moon.
The significance of moon names
The full moon names used by early Native American tribes show how full moons were used to track seasons before modern calendars. Each name marks a significant point in the year important for survival.
Keeping time by the seasons
Naming full moons allowed the tribes to keep track of time without using modern months and dates. The consistent cycle of full moons provided a natural seasonal calendar for planning important activities related to weather, agriculture, and food availability.
Connection between nature & culture
Moon names also reflect how closely Native Americans depended on nature’s cycles and bounty. The milk moon’s name captures how their livelihood depended on the behavior and sustenance of animals. Their culture was intimately tied to the land.
Passing on knowledge
Knowing when to plant, harvest, or hunt was life-saving knowledge. Naming each full moon made the knowledge easier to remember and pass down through oral tradition and storytelling.
Celebrating natural rhythms
The full moon names honored nature’s rhythms and gifts. Ceremonies giving thanks for nature’s blessings were integral parts of Native American spiritual tradition.
The unique seasonal moon names reflected the vital connection between the moon’s predictable cycles and the survival of communities dependent on agriculture and hunting. This ancestral wisdom persists through the continued use of full moon names like the milk moon.
Conclusion
The milk moon is the full moon occurring each October. Its name comes from Native American traditions and signifies the autumn month when food gathering is crucial for survival through winter. The milk moon provided light for hunters and marked the readiness of milk-producing animals to nourish their young.
Modern skywatchers can look for October’s brilliant milk moon knowing its glow carries centuries of cultural meaning and guiding humanity’s connection to nature’s rhythms. The milk moon remains a beautifulreminder of how the cosmos has imprinted its cycles on the rituals of life on Earth.
