Tonight, gaze at the horizon during dusk to witness a breathtaking lunar event as the closest supermoon of the year ascends into the autumn sky. The hunter’s moon for October will reach its peak fullness at 7:26 a.m. ET on Thursday, although it will appear round from Wednesday evening through Friday morning, according to NASA.
This full moon marks the third of four consecutive supermoons predicted for this year. Such events occur because the moon’s orbit is elliptical, resulting in times when it is nearer to or farther from Earth. The point at which the moon is closest is known as perigee, which occurs approximately 226,000 miles (363,300 kilometers) from Earth. A supermoon happens when this proximity aligns with the full moon phase.
A supermoon is characterized by the moon’s proximity to Earth. While the average distance of the moon’s orbit is about 238,855 miles (384,400 kilometers), this month’s supermoon will be just 222,095 miles (357,428 kilometers) away, making it the closest full moon of 2024. During a supermoon, the moon can appear up to 8% larger and 16% brighter than usual.
Dr. Robin L. Shelton, a physics professor at the University of Georgia, notes that while October’s moon may seem larger or brighter, it is primarily an optical illusion based on its low position near the horizon shortly after sunset. The distinctive orange hue often associated with the hunter’s moon is also common among all full moons and results from how light interacts with Earth’s atmosphere.
The hunter’s moon is the first full moon following the autumnal equinox, which took place on September 22. This lunar event signifies the transition of seasons and has historical significance for indigenous peoples who relied on the moonlight to hunt as they prepared for winter. Various names exist for this full moon in different cultures, such as the moon of the first frost among the Potawatomi and the falling leaves moon within the Anishinaabe tradition.
Additionally, the hunter’s moon will be accompanied by celestial bodies like Jupiter, the red giant star Aldebaran, and the Pleiades star cluster, visible in the nights ahead.
October also brings exciting celestial occurrences. Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) recently passed close to Earth and can be observed in the western sky shortly after sunset until October 24. While visible to the naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope will enhance the view. This comet won’t return for at least 80,000 years.
Keep an eye out for Jupiter appearing near the moon low in the eastern sky on October 20, and Mars will become visible near the moon in the early hours of October 23 and 24.
Looking ahead, the beaver moon on November 15 will be the last supermoon of the year, while the cold moon will be the final full moon on December 15. Here are the key dates for upcoming meteor showers this fall and winter:
• Orionids: October 21-22
• Southern Taurids: November 5-6
• Northern Taurids: November 11-12
• Leonids: November 17-18
• Geminids: December 13-14
• Ursids: December 21-22