Tonight, stargazers will have a unique opportunity to witness the rare Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) as it makes its appearance in the western sky shortly after sunset. In addition, skywatchers can enjoy the full moon, known as the hunter’s moon, later in the evening. This marks the third of four consecutive supermoons expected in 2024, and it is anticipated to be the largest.
A supermoon occurs when the full moon reaches its nearest point to Earth, giving it a larger and brighter appearance. Although the term “supermoon” is not officially scientific, it has become widely used to describe this phenomenon.
For those in Florida, the full supermoon will be best seen around 8:48 p.m. EDT, with the global visibility commencing around 7:26 p.m. EDT. During this time, the moon will be at its closest point to Earth, as noted by Joe Rao from Space.com.
Supermoons are a result of the moon’s elliptical orbit, with two key terms to understand: perigee and apogee. Perigee refers to the moon’s closest point to Earth, approximately 226,000 miles away, while apogee denotes its farthest point, about 251,000 miles away. A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with perigee, which happens once during the moon’s orbit.
Typically, a full moon can be regarded as such for up to three days, meaning that if tonight’s supermoon is missed, observers can still catch a slightly smaller version of it on Friday night.
While supermoons are not exceedingly rare, they do not occur frequently. In an average year, there are about three to four supermoons that happen consecutively. For 2024 and 2025, four supermoons are expected.
The term “supermoon” was coined in 1979 by astrologer Richard Nolle, referring to a new or full moon occurring within 90% of its closest approach to Earth.
Looking ahead, the next supermoon will be visible with November’s full moon, known as the Beaver Moon, on November 15.
In addition to the supermoon, Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) will also be visible in Florida tonight. If observed at the right time, the comet can be seen without telescopes or binoculars, though these tools may enhance the view. The comet, which was previously visible in the southern hemisphere, can now be seen in the northern hemisphere until October 31, with optimal viewing opportunities from tonight through October 24.
The best time to view the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet will be just after sunset, as its tail will be illuminated by residual sunlight. According to Astronomy Magazine, it will become visible 15 minutes past sunset on Wednesday and will continue to be seen 30 minutes past sunset for the following four days. In Florida, sunset will occur around 6:14 p.m. CDT in the western Panhandle and around 6:52 p.m. EDT in the rest of the state.