On October 29, 2023, the full moon illuminated an owl-shaped finial on a house in Hede-Bazouges, a suburb of Rennes in western France, just days before Halloween.
This week marks the largest full moon of 2024, officially reaching its fullness on Thursday, October 17, at 7:26 a.m. EDT (1126 GMT). Just under 11 hours prior, on Wednesday at 8:48 p.m. EDT (0048 GMT), the moon will also reach perigee, its closest point to Earth, at a distance of 221,938 miles (357,174 km).
These two events will result in a full moon that is 14% brighter than usual, accompanied by unusually high and low tides that will extend into the weekend. When a full moon coincides with perigee, it is commonly referred to as a “supermoon.”
Dr. Fred Espenak, a retired NASA astrophysicist and expert on eclipses, characterizes a supermoon as a full moon occurring when the moon is within 90% of its closest approach to Earth. He has compiled a list of all supermoons in the 21st century, noting that 2024 will feature four supermoons in August, September, October, and November. This week’s event is significant as the full moon and perigee coincide closely.
The full moon will occur at 7:26 a.m. EDT, 4:26 a.m. PDT, and 11:26 GMT on Thursday, October 17.
In contrast, on April 13, 2025, the full moon will occur near apogee, which is when the moon is farthest from Earth, appearing about 14% smaller than on the night of October 16.
Traditionally, Native Americans referred to the October full moon as the Hunter’s Moon, indicating it is a prime time for hunting as the leaves fall and deer are fattened. With fields recently harvested, hunters have better visibility for spotting foxes and other game.
Although many weathercasters will encourage viewers to admire the “full supermoon” on Thursday night, the moon will have already passed the point of fullness and entered a waning gibbous phase. The optimal time to witness the supermoon effect will actually be on Wednesday night, when the moon will be near perigee and very close to its full state.
While a full moon lasts only for a brief moment, this is often imperceptible to the naked eye, leading most people to refer to the nights around the full moon as “full.”
The Hunter’s Moon rose behind the Empire State Building in New York City on October 27, 2023.
“Spring” tides occur every month during the full and new moon phases, with the term “spring” deriving from the German word “springen,” meaning to “spring up,” not related to the season. During these times, the moon’s tidal effects combine with those of the sun. In contrast, “neap” tides happen during the first and last quarter moons, when the moon’s and sun’s effects counteract each other.
Although the highest tides won’t occur precisely at perigee due to coastal location variations, they will happen within several days after. For instance, at Boston Harbor, a peak tide of 12.0 feet is expected at 12:11 p.m. EDT on Friday, almost two days post-perigee, while Cape Fear, North Carolina, will see a maximum tide of 6.8 feet at 9:16 a.m. EDT on Saturday.
A coastal storm during this period may lead to increased flooding issues.
The moon’s distance primarily affects its tidal force, with this month displaying a 12.2% closer distance at perigee than at apogee, resulting in a 42% stronger tidal force at this full moon compared to the upcoming “micro” full moon in April.
Typically, the moon’s distance variation is not easily noticeable. However, when the perigee moon rises near the horizon, it can look exceptionally large due to the “moon illusion,” especially when nearby to trees and buildings. The proximity of the moon this weekend will enhance this effect even more.
So, a perigee moon at sunset or sunrise might appear so close that it seems within reach. You can check the rise and set times for the moon in your area through the U.S. Naval Observatory.
For a closer view of the moon and celestial objects, there are guides available to help you choose the right telescope or binoculars for your needs.
If you capture stunning photos of the Full Hunter’s Supermoon and wish to share them, there are options to submit images and comments to the skywatching inbox.
Joe Rao is an instructor and guest lecturer at New York’s Hayden Planetarium, writing about astronomy for various publications.