Excitement is building among Moongazers for the spectacle tonight. If you’ve ever wanted to witness the moon in all its glory, tonight is the night. This full moon is set to be the brightest and largest of the year, shining up to 15% brighter and appearing 30% larger than any other full moon.
This particular full moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon. Here’s everything you need to know about it…
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When is the Hunter’s Moon 2024?
The Hunter’s supermoon will illuminate the night sky on October 16 and 17, 2024. If you miss it on one of those nights, don’t worry as the moon will remain full for three more nights.
The peak brightness of the supermoon will be on the morning of October 17th at 7:26am EDT and 12:26pm in the UK. Unfortunately, it won’t be visible at that time due to the sunlight (or clouds in the UK).
The Moon will rise in the eastern sky around sunset on October 17th and remain visible throughout the night.
This will be the third supermoon of the year, with tonight being the brightest.
On October 19th, the Moon will be visible below the Pleiades star cluster, creating a stunning sight for stargazers. Some stars may be obscured by the moon’s brightness, but can still be seen with binoculars or a telescope. If you need help locating celestial objects in the night sky, consider using an astronomy app.
Why is it called Hunter’s Moon?
The name “Hunter’s Moon” follows the “Harvest Moon” and rises in November every four years, but in other years it shines in October.
It is believed that the name originated from the time when people hunted animals in the fall to store food for the winter.
The Hunter’s Moon has various other names and is often associated with the changing seasons, such as “falling leaves moon” and “autumn moon”. In Native American traditions, October’s full moon is called the “travel moon” due to its long-lasting presence in the autumn sky, guiding travelers with its light.
What is a supermoon?
A supermoon is when the moon appears larger than usual in the sky.
This phenomenon occurs when the moon, in its elliptical orbit around the Earth, is at its closest point to the Earth (perigee) during a full moon, making it appear larger in the sky.
Conversely, when the full moon is farthest from Earth (apogee), it appears smaller, known as a micromoon.
This year’s Hunter’s Supermoon will be 357,364 km (222,056 miles) from Earth, compared to its approximate farthest distance of 405,500 km (253,000 miles).
When is the full moon?
A full moon occurs when the Moon is fully illuminated by sunlight, with the Earth between the Sun and Moon reflecting light back to us.
The lunar cycle of full moons repeats approximately every 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 3 seconds, so missing one full moon doesn’t mean a long wait for the next.
What is the moon illusion?
The moon illusion is a fascinating phenomenon where the moon near the horizon appears larger during moonrise and moonset. While it may seem larger, it’s simply an optical illusion, perfect for capturing stunning photos despite our eyes being deceived.
Scientists are still exploring the reasons behind this illusion, with one theory suggesting our brains compare the moon to objects on the horizon, making it appear larger than it actually is.
How often do full moons occur?
Full moons occur approximately every 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 3 seconds, rounded to the nearest 29.53 days. This duration represents the time for the Moon to complete a full lunar cycle from new moon to next full moon, known as a “Synodic Month”.
In a typical year, we experience 12 full moons.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
