This week, the next full moon will appear in the night sky all around. The phenomenon, when it appears, will have a few notable titles.
The Hunter’s Moon is a centuries-old term for the full, bright moon that follows the autumnal solstice and rises along with it. This marks the beginning of the hunting season. According to the Maine Farmer’s Almanac, some Native American tribes called the celestial phenomenon by other names, such as the Blood Moon, Travel Moon, or Dying Grass Moon. However, each name was used to signify a similar shift in the calendar year.
This full moon will also be a supermoon. Because of its proximity to Earth, the moon will appear brighter and bigger to those who observe it from Earth.
Why does the supermoon make the moon seem brighter?
The orbit of the moon around Earth, like Earth’s, is oval. The space rock will be at different distances from the planet, depending on when the month is and where it is located. NASA says that the distances vary between 226,000 and 251,000 miles.
Supermoons are formed when the moon hovers around one of these closer distances at a full moon.
The supermoon only occurs three to four times per year because the closeness of the moon to Earth is rarely synchronized with full moons. The two are not identical. Astronomers consider a “super” full moon if its orbital position is within 90% of its distance to Earth from its furthest point in the ellipses. Perigee is the absolute closest point.
When is the next full Moon?
NASA announced that the Hunter’s Moon will be the third supermoon in a row. The supermoon will occur on Thursday, October 17, one day after the moon reaches perigee. The supermoon in 2024 is expected to be one of the brightest and biggest of its kind, but only by a small margin.
A full moon is due to appear less than 12 hours later at 7:30 am in the same timezone. The full moon will appear late Wednesday night in places west of the International Date Line, and early Friday morning in places eastward.
The moon should appear full from Tuesday night to Friday morning. Astronomers claim that the supermoon is most impressive right after sunset. They recommend looking just above the horizon to get the best visibility.
