Skip to content

A massive full moon will illuminate Metro Vancouver skies this week

Halloween may be a couple of weeks away in Metro Vancouver, but star gazers are privy to October’s full moon this week. While it is known by many names, it is most commonly referred to as the Full Hunter’s Moon.
moon
The next full moon is on Canada Day. Photo: Thinkstock

Halloween may be a couple of weeks away in Metro Vancouver, but star gazers are privy to October’s full moon this week.

While it is known by many names, it is most commonly referred to as the Full Hunter’s Moon. It will take place on Wednesday, October 24, and fill the inky night sky with illuminated, iridescent light.

Of course, full moons take place throughout the year, but October’s offering has a decidedly mysterious feel.

For one, the celestial event takes place the week before Halloween, which conjures images of witches casting spells and werewolves changing form under the pale moonlight. Further, it is named after hunting, and is sometimes refers to as the blood moon.

Specifically, it “gets its name from hunters who tracked and killed their prey by autumn moonlight, stockpiling food for the winter ahead,” reports Nightsky Info.

Stargazers should opt to travel as far away from city lights as possible in order to avoid light pollution that will obscure the clarity of heavenly bodies. While this works best the in more remote places, anywhere that has a higher elevation will also provide more ideal viewing conditions.