The largest supermoon of the year will brighten the night sky this week.
The October full moon, also known as the Hunter’s moon, will be the third supermoon of 2024.
Supermoons appear roughly 30 percent brighter and 15 percent bigger than a full moon at it’s farthest point from Earth.
The Hunter’s moon will be its fullest at 7:30am ET on October 17, with the best views in the eastern sky at moonrise.
But it will appear bright and full the day before and after as well.
The Hunter’s moon – the largest supermoon of the year – will brighten the night sky this week
This exceptionally large and bright moon will appear in the constellation Pisces, which is northeast of Aquarius and northwest of Cetus the sea monster.
As the moon rises, it will appear about halfway between Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter will be below and to the left of the moon, while Saturn will be above and to the right.
And on Sunday, we’ll get to see a celestial double-feature as the moon rises with Jupiter.
Supermoons look biggest and brightest when they’re closest to the horizon, so the best time to see it will be just after moonrise or just before moonset.
That’s because when it’s near the horizon, there are objects like trees and buildings compare the moon’s size too.
This creates an optical illusion that makes the moon seem larger than when it’s high in the sky without nearby objects to compare it to.
The moon will be so big and bright that it should be easily visible across the US, but make sure to check the weather forecast ahead of time. Cloudy skies could obscure the view.
As for a viewing location, try to choose one with a clear view of the horizon, like a beach, hill or field.
Supermoons occur when the full moon is at ‘perigee’ – the point where it’s closest to Earth.
If you live in the city, you may want to get out in search of darker skies, as light pollution can dim the moon’s brightness.
To see the details of the moon up close – like craters – make sure to bring some binoculars and a telescope with you.
Supermoons occur when the full moon is a perigee, or the closest point to Earth in its elliptical (or oval-shaped) orbit. As the moon circles our planet, it’s distance ranges between roughly 221,829 miles to 252,898 miles away, according to NASA.
This week, the full moon will make it’s closest approach to Earth this year, coming within just 222,056 miles of our planet.
The Hunter’s full moon gets its name from the Algonquin Native American tribes.
When this moon rose each October, it signaled that it was time to go hunting in preparation for winter, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
But the October full moon is known by other names too, including the Dying Grass Moon, the Travel Moon, the Sanguine Moon and the Waking Moon, according to AccuWeather.com.
The Hunter’s moon will also be the first full moon of fall, which began on September 22 – the day of the fall equinox. The last full moon, which was also a supermoon, occurred on September 17.
Supermoons happen three to four times each year and always occur in consecutive months.
The next full moon – and the last supermoon of the year – will occur on November 15.
