The biggest supermoon of the year will brighten the night sky this week.
October’s full moon, also known as the Hunter’s moon, will be the third supermoon of 2024.
Supermoons appear about 30 percent brighter and 15 percent larger than a Full Moon at Earth’s furthest point.
The Hunter’s moon will be at its fullest on October 17 at 7:30 a.m. ET, with the best views in the eastern sky at sunrise.
But the day before and after it will also look bright and full.
The Hunter’s moon – the biggest supermoon of the year – will brighten the night sky this week
This exceptionally large and bright moon will appear in the constellation Pisces, which lies northeast of Aquarius and northwest of the sea monster Cetus.
When 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 see a celestial double feature as the moon rises with Jupiter.
Supermoons look largest and brightest when they are closest to the horizon, so the best time to see them is just after moonrise or just before moonset.
That’s because when it’s close to the horizon, there are objects like trees and buildings that also compare the size of the moon.
This creates an optical illusion that makes the moon appear larger than when it is high in the sky, with no objects nearby to compare it to.
The moon will be so big and bright that it should be easily visible from anywhere in the US, but be sure to check the weather forecast ahead of time. Cloudy skies can obscure visibility.
As for a viewing location, try to choose one with a clear view of the horizon, such as a beach, hill or field.
Supermoons occur when the full moon is at its ‘perigee’ – the point at which it is closest to the Earth.
If you live in the city, you may want to look for darker skies, as light pollution can reduce the moon’s brightness.
To see the moon’s details up close, such as craters, make sure you bring binoculars and a telescope.
Supermoons occur when the full moon is at perigee, or the closest point to Earth in its elliptical (or oval-shaped) orbit. As the moon orbits our planet, its distance ranges from about 350,000 kilometers to 400,000 kilometers, according to NASA.
This week, the Full Moon will make its closest approach to Earth this year, at a distance of just 350,000 km from our planet.
The Hunter 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 October’s full moon is also known by other names, 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 autumn, which began on September 22 – the day of the autumnal equinox. The last full moon, which was also a supermoon, occurred on September 17.
Supermoons occur three to four times a year and always occur in consecutive months.
The next full moon – and the last supermoon of the year – will occur on November 15.