When is Full Moon?

What is Full Moon?

The term "Full Moon" is used to descrive the moon phase in which the whole disk of the moon is illuminated when seen from earth. This occurs when the moon itself is in direct opposition of the sun, meaning the moon is exactly on the opposite side of the earth from the sun. Scientifically, this is when the ecliptic longitudes of the sun and moon vary by 180 degrees. The number of days between full moons is typically 29 or 30 days apart. 

Traditionally, a full moon is associated with insomnia, insanity (which is where the terms lunacy and lunatic originated), and other seemingly magical events or occurances, for an example a werewolf. Research has yet to be able to confirm or deny these claims. Each full moon has a Native American name, such as the Harvest Mood, Pink Moon or the Blood Moon. 

The traditional names for the full moons that occur in autumn are "Harvest Moon" and "Hunter's Moon," which typically occur in the months of September and October in the Northern Hemisphere. The "Harvest Moon" is the full moon that is closest to the autumnal equinox with the "Hunter's Moon" being the following full moon.