ROCKFORD, Ill. – On October 17, the moon will appear 30% brighter and 15% larger as the third of four consecutive supermoons takes place.
A supermoon occurs during a full moon that is at least 90% of its perigee, meaning it is at its closest point to Earth. Typically, there are three to four supermoons each year, which follow one another due to the elliptical shape of the moon’s orbit around our planet.
Tonight’s supermoon will be the closest of the four this year, positioned 222,056 miles from Earth. While this distance is notable, it is not a record; for instance, in January 1948, the moon was just 221,494 miles away, and in November 2034, it will come even closer at approximately 221,485 miles.
To better understand this distance, it’s important to consider the moon’s apogee, its farthest point from Earth at around 251,000 miles, which is 12% further than the distance tonight.
This full moon is commonly known as the hunter’s moon, as it follows the autumn equinox. The name is derived from indigenous peoples who relied on the moon’s brightness to assist hunters preparing for the winter months by using the light to track deer.
The final supermoon of 2024 is scheduled for November 15, but it will not be as close as the one on October 17.