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PRINTHow to Determine a Full Moon?
Many of us are under the impression that when a Moon is Full, it is full for the entire day. Actually, astronomers determine the moment of the full Moon based on the Moon’s position in relation to the Sun. When the Moon is exactly opposite in the sky to the Sun (180 degrees apart), it is deemed a full Moon. At that moment, the Sun is setting in the west and the Moon is coming up in the east. And, the moon’s disk is fully (100%) illuminated. Some hours before or after the moment of the full Moon, the Moon is ever-so-slightly out of round and it’s illumination is a mere 99.8% of full. Most folks refer to the Moon as full not only on the day it is actually full, but also on the day before since it is nearly impossible to see any difference with the naked eye.
We will have a Full Moon for October later this week. Do you know what we call the October Full Moon?? Stay tuned. I’ll even let you know the name and exact moment of “fullness” should you be a full moon perfectionist. If you hear the term Light of the Moon and Dark of the Moon. Light reflects the time a moon is a New Moon (completely dark) to the moment of a Full Moon (100% illumination). Dark of the Moon runs from the Full Moon to the New Moon when the light decreases. These terms are important when planting and doing other activities as outlined in our best day and gardening calendars.
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Full Moon, October Full Moon, Light of the Moon, Dark of the Moon, Farmers’ Almanac
Peter Geiger is the Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. Read his full biography here.Free Weekly eNewsletter
Farmers' Almanac Long Range Weather
February 8th - February 11th
- Northeast U.S.
Wet snow mixed with rain Mid-Atlantic north through New England; slushy accumulations of 4+" possible.
- Midwest/Great Lakes U.S.
Accumulating snows Kentucky, Ohio, then clearing. Fair elsewhere.
- Southeast U.S.
Wet snow Tennessee, western North Carolina; wintry mix northern Mississippi, Alabama. Elsewhere, rain, then clearing.
- North Central U.S.
Drier, much colder.
- South Central U.S.
Snow parts of Arkansas, then clearing, cold. Clear, much colder elsewhere.
- Northwest U.S.
Drier, but colder.
- Southwest U.S.
Drier, but noticeably colder.
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If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.