Full moon: NASA scientist explains why moon appears ‘brighter’

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Many Brits missed October’s Full Moon on October 20, as Storm Aurore brought with it heavy rain clouds obscuring skies across much of southern England. For those in further north, October’s Full Moon, known as the Hunter’s Moon, would have made for a stunning sight. When will the next Full Moon be visible in the UK?

It’s a common misconception that Full Moons appear once a month.

Keen stargazers will know that each lunar cycle lasts just over 29.5 days.

Because our calendar isn’t quite in sync with the Moon’s lunar phases, sometimes we are treated to two Full Moons a month.

This phenomenon is commonly known as a Blue Moon.

This means that Full Moons tend to appear slightly earlier with each passing month.

So the next Full Moon will appear in the sky on November 19.

What is the Full Moon calendar for the rest of 2021?

Brits will be treated to two more Full Moons this year, but you will have to wake up early to see them.

The Royal Observatory forecasts that the next Full Moon, known as the Beaver Moon, will be visible on November 19 at November 8.57am.

This Moon has been given its unusual nickname as beavers typically start building their dams for the winter months around this time of year.

The final Moon of 2021, called the Cold Moon, is forecast for December 19 at 4.35am.

How to get the best view of a Full Moon

If you can get away from polluted or cloudy skies full moons always make for a spectacular sight.

To enhance your view of a Full Moon try to head out of the city where you can.

Light pollution from other buildings can obscure your view of the night sky.

Make sure you check the best time for the Moon’s rise.

The best view will be when it’s highest in the sky, so make sure you check the Royal Observatory’s forecast to see the Moon at its fullest.

How often is there a Full Moon on Halloween?

Many people associate Full Moons with Halloween and all things spooky.

The last Full Moon to fall on Halloween was actually last year.

This was because the first Moon of the month was seen on October 1, with the second (a Blue Moon) appearing on Halloween.

There will only be six Full Moons on Halloween throughout the whole of the 21st century; in 2039, 2058, 2077 and 2096.

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