Hunter’s Moon to Light Up the Night Sky This Week
Get ready for a celestial spectacle! The Hunter’s Moon, the closest and brightest supermoon of the year, will grace the night sky this week, peaking on Thursday, October 17th, at 7:26 a.m. EDT. While the moon officially reaches its fullest at this time, it will appear full from Wednesday evening through Friday morning, offering ample opportunities to witness this lunar marvel.
What Makes This Moon a Supermoon?
The moon’s orbit around Earth is not perfectly circular, but rather elliptical. This means the moon’s distance from Earth varies throughout its orbit. A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth, known as perigee. This Hunter’s Moon will be exceptionally close to Earth, at a distance of just 222,095 miles (357,428 kilometers). This proximity makes it appear up to 8% larger and 16% brighter than an average full moon.
Why the Orange Hue?
You might notice the Hunter’s Moon takes on an orange tint as it rises. This effect, common to all full moons rising near the horizon, is due to Earth’s atmosphere scattering blue light, leaving the longer wavelengths of orange and red to dominate.
The Hunter’s Moon and its Cultural Significance
The name “Hunter’s Moon” has its roots in Native American traditions. Following the Harvest Moon, which allowed farmers to work late into the night, the Hunter’s Moon provided bright moonlight for hunters to track and hunt game in preparation for winter. The fields, cleared after harvest, offered better visibility for hunting.
The Hunter’s Moon holds different meanings across various indigenous cultures. The Potawatomi nation calls it the “moon of the first frost,” while the Apache tribe refers to it as the “time when the corn is taken in.” The Anishinaabe people know it as the “falling leaves moon.”
Viewing the Hunter’s Moon
The Hunter’s Moon will be visible to the naked eye from most locations worldwide, requiring no special equipment. While the moon reaches its peak on Thursday morning, you can enjoy its nearly full appearance from Tuesday evening through Friday morning.
Jupiter will also join the lunar display, appearing low in the eastern sky around 10 p.m. on October 20, while Mars will be visible near the moon in the early morning hours of October 23 and 24.
More Celestial Events to Watch For
The Hunter’s Moon isn’t the only celestial event to catch this month. Here are some other highlights:
- Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS): Visible in the west after sunset until October 24th. This comet won’t return for another 80,000 years!
- Jupiter: Look for this bright planet near the moon on October 20th.
- Mars: Spot this red planet near the moon on October 23rd and 24th.
- Beaver Moon: The final supermoon of 2024, occurring on November 15th.
Don’t forget the upcoming meteor showers: Orionids, Southern Taurids, Northern Taurids, Leonids, Geminids, and Ursids.
Enjoy the celestial show!
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