October 2023 New Moon, the New Hunter’s Moon
Take a look back at the October 2023 New Moon. The October new moon was on Saturday October 14, 2023 based on the data provided by NASA. It will be the tenth new moon on the 2023 New Moon calendar.
A new moon is the first lunar phase that happens about once a month or 29.53 days on average. The moon itself is not visible, though you may be able to “see” it because it blocks the visibility of the stars behind it.
The dates and times provided by NASA in United States Eastern Time are for both Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) for part of the year in the United States. Also below is the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) time. Since you may be in a different time zone, the exact dates may shift for your calendar.
What is the name of the October 2023 New Moon?
One name for the October 2023 New Moon was the New Hunter’s Moon. This nickname is inspired by Native Americans and their activities for getting ready for the winter. They would start gathering provisions to get them through the winter. Another nickname for October’s new moon includes the Blood Moon.
In some years, the October new moon’s name switches based on which full moon it starts the cycle for. In 2023 the October 14th new moon was the start of the October Full Moon and in other years, the new moon in October may be the start of the November Lunar Cycle.
Which season includes the October New Moon?
In 2023, the October New Moon was the first new moon of the Autumn 2023 season. It was the first new moon after the Autumnal Equinox in 2023.
The Autumnal Equinox marks the beginning of astronomical autumn and the end of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
In 2023, the Autumnal Equinox was on Saturday September 23, 2023 2:50 AM EDT or 6:50 AM UTC.
Depending on the year, the October New Moon could occur either be the first or second New Moon of Autumn, depending on if the September New Moon happens before or after the Autumnal Equinox.
When is the full moon for the 2023 New Hunter’s Moon?
The full moon for the New Hunter’s Moon was in October 2023. The Full Hunter’s Moon was on Saturday October 28, 2023 4:24 PM EDT or 8:24 PM UTC, and will be the full moon in Taurus.
Also interesting to note, in 2023, this will be one of the few new moon-full moon cycles that will be in the same month.
October 2023 Moon Phases in US Eastern Time and UTC
Below are the lunar phases for October 2023 including the new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter that are on the schedule for each month. The date and times are based on both the United States Eastern Time Zone and UTC, adjusted for daylight saving time.
| October Moon Phase | Phase Date | US Eastern Date & Time | UTC Date & Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Quarter | October 6, 2023 | 9:48 AM EDT | 1:48 PM UTC |
| New Moon | October 14, 2023 | 1:55 PM EDT | 5:55 PM UTC |
| First Quarter | October 21, 2023 | 11:29 PM EDT | 3:29 AM UTC (October 22) |
| Full Moon | October 28, 2023 | 4:24 PM EDT | 8:24 PM UTC |
Future October New Moons
Now that the October New Moon has gone, the next October New Moon will be in 2024. The dates of the October New Moons through 2029 are:
| Year | Day of the week | New Moon Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Wednesday | October 2, 2024 2:49 PM EDT |
| 2025 | Tuesday | October 21, 2025 8:25 AM EDT |
| 2026 | Saturday | October 10, 2026 11:50 AM EDT |
| 2027 | Friday | October 29, 2027 9:36 AM EDT |
| 2028 | Tuesday | October 17, 2028 10:57 PM EDT |
| 2029 | Sunday | October 7, 2029 3:14 PM EDT |
Past October New Moons
In addition to the recent new moon in October, here are the dates of the October New Moon back to 2017.
| Year | Day of the week | New Moon Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Saturday | October 14, 2023 1:55 PM EDT |
| 2022 | Tuesday | October 25, 2022 6:49 AM EDT |
| 2021 | Wednesday | October 6, 2021 7:05 AM EDT |
| 2020 | Friday | October 16, 2020 3:31 PM EDT |
| 2019 | Sunday | October 27, 2019 10:38 PM EDT |
| 2018 | Monday | October 8, 2018 11:47 PM EDT |
| 2017 | Thursday | October 19, 2017 3:12 PM EDT |
Frequently Asked Questions
Have additional questions about the October New Moons? Here are a few of the frequently asked questions to help you.
The October 2022 New Moon was on Friday October 16, 2020. This was the first new moon of the Autumn 2022 season as the September 2022 new moon occurred before the Autumnal Equinox.
The October 2021 New Moon was on Wednesday October 6, 2021. This was the first new moon of the Fall 2021 season as the September 2021 new moon occurred before the Autumnal Equinox.
The October 2020 New Moon was on Friday October 16, 2020. This was the first new moon of Fall 2020 season as the September 2021 new moon occurred before the Autumnal Equinox.
