Complex Numbers

Blood Moon

It's not generally known, but the Full Moon in any particular month is known by a name.

Perhaps the most famous of these is the Harvest Moon, which we were fortunate to have coincide with the Fall Equinox this year - only a few hours apart.

But the Blood Moon is important, too, being the first full moon after the Harvest Moon.

I've heard that it's called such (it's also known as Hunter's Moon, but that name isn't as cool) because it is in October that our ancestors would look at their flocks, make a determination as to how many of them they could feed through the upcoming winter - and butcher the rest, ensuring a sufficient supply of meat over the winter months while optimizing the survival of the bulk of the flock, or herd, or whatever.

It's October, and there's a chill in the air. The other night, for the first time this fall, I saw Orion. Tonight, the moon became full, and it was the Blood Moon.

Winter is coming.