Brightest and closest supermoon
The Hunter's Moon seen in Pioneer on 17 Oct 2024
On Oct 17, Singaporeans were treated to the sight of the Hunter’s Moon, which is not just any supermoon – it is the brightest of the four occurring in 2024.
Of the four consecutive supermoons of 2024, the Hunter’s Moon is the third and the closest to Earth, the Science Centre Observatory says. Historically, it was named as such because it appeared around the time that hunters would have been most actively hunting animals in preparation for winter. The Hunter’s Moon began rising around 6.45pm on Oct 17, and by 8pm, it was high enough in Singapore’s sky for everyone to enjoy. The Hunter’s Moon carries deep significance in different cultures. In northern Europe and among Native American groups, this moon marked a time of feasting and storing food for the long winter ahead. In European folklore, the bright nights under this moon were considered perfect for hunting, especially with the fields cleared after the harvest.
For those in Singapore, the Hunter’s Moon was visible across the island. Open spaces like Marina Barrage, East Coast Park or the scenic Southern Ridges are said to provide the best and unblocked views of celestial events such as the supermoon. The final supermoon of 2024, the Beaver Moon, will appear on 15 Nov 2024
October's supermoon pairs with a comet for a special night-time spectacle
A flock of birds flies in front of the full moon over the city centre in Tallinn, Estonia, on Oct 17, 2024
October's supermoon is the closest of the year and it's teaming up with a comet for a rare stargazing two-for-one. The third of four supermoons this year, it will be 357,364 kilometres away Wednesday night, making it seem even bigger and brighter than in August and September. It will reach its full lunar phase on Thursday (Oct 17).
In a twist of cosmic fate, a comet is in the neighbourhood. Discovered last year, comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas is now prominent in the Northern Hemisphere after wowing stargazers in the Southern Hemisphere. The moonlight will wash out some of the comet’s tail, but it’s still worth a look after sunset, said NASA's Bill Cooke.
“Most astronomers hate the full moon because its bright light messes up observing other objects. So it’s a bit hard for us to wax poetic about it even if it’s the biggest supermoon of 2024,” he said in an email. Better catch the comet; it may never return. But don't fret if you miss Thursday's supermoon. The fourth and final supermoon of the year will rise on Nov 15.
October Full Moon 2024: Why Is It Called The Hunter's Moon?
The October Full Moon, known as the Hunter’s Moon, will light up the night sky this week, reaching its peak illumination on Thursday, October 17th, at 7:26 a.m. EDT (4:56 p.m. IST).
According to NASA, while the moon will be at its brightest at this time, you can expect to witness its beauty from Tuesday evening through Friday morning. For those who enjoy observing celestial events, this moon promises to be a stunning sight. The Hunter’s Moon is a supermoon that occurs after the Harvest Moon, which is a supermoon closest to the autumnal equinox. The term “Hunter’s Moon” has historical significance, with its earliest known usage recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1710.
This particular full moon is unique; it appears brighter and rises earlier than other full moons. This increased luminosity and earlier rising time provide more light just after sunset, which is particularly beneficial for hunters. The phenomenon occurs because the moon's orbit is nearly parallel to the horizon during this time, resulting in only a short gap between moonrise and sunset.
Hunter's Moon 2024: Why is October's full Moon special, and when will the supermoon happen?
Astronomy fans are in for a treat, as it's nearly time for October's full Moon. It will appear in our skies later this week, and what's more, it's set to be the brightest supermoon of the year! Supermoons happen when the Moon is closest to the Earth, appearing bigger and brighter than normal - up to 15% brighter and 30% bigger than regular full Moons.
But why is October's called the Hunter's Moon, and when will it happen? The full Moon has many different names throughout the year. We normally have 12 full Moons a year, each with its own informal nickname. October's full Moon is also called the Hunter's Moon, as it occurs at the time of year when hunters would traditionally have been most active - planning for the winter months ahead and hunting animals for food.
This year the Hunter's Moon will take place just after midday on Thursday 17 October at 12.26pm. The Moon will appear full for approximately three days around this time. October's full Moon will also be the third of four back-to-back supermoons. It will also be the brightest of all the supermoons this year.
Hunter's supermoon: when to see the brightest full moon of 2024
If you catch a glimpse of the full moon in the next couple of nights, you might notice how bright it is. This month's full moon, called the Hunter's Moon, is also a supermoon and happens to be the brightest of the year. It is the third of four supermoons in 2024.
The peak of the full moon on Thursday afternoon is when it is below the horizon in the UK, though in the evening and coming nights it will still look bright and mostly full. Each month our full moons are given names that refer to what might be happening in nature at that time. October's full moon is known as the Hunter's Moon as it is the time of year when leaves start to fall and animals have plumped up over the summer, ready for winter. Ancient communities would therefore increase hunting at this time of year. The next full moon on 15 November is the Beaver Moon as it is linked to the time that beavers start to take shelter in their lodges ahead of winter. This will also happen to be a supermoon.
There have already been two supermoons this year - August's Blue Moon and September's Harvest Moon. This Hunter's Moon will be the third of fourth in the year and will be the brightest. The Moon's orbit around Earth is elliptical which means there are times when it is further away - apogee - and times when it is closer - perigee. On Wednesday night the Moon was at perigee, around 222,055 miles (357,363km) away. By comparison, at apogee the Moon is 252,088 miles (405,696 km) away from Earth. The Hunter's supermoon can therefore appear up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full moons. It will appear even bigger and brighter - perhaps with a reddish tinge - as it rises or falls near the horizon. This is down to the "Moon illusion" which tricks the eye into thinking the Moon is larger when we see it with a foreground of buildings, trees or hills.
Hunter's Supermoon rises this week, the biggest full moon of 2024. Here's how to see it
The full moon reveals an owl-shaped finial on the roof of a house in Hede-Bazouges, suburb of Rennes, western France, on october 29, 2023, few days ahead of Halloween
If you wish to get the full "supermoon effect," then Wednesday is your night. On Thursday (Oct. 17) at 7:26 a.m. EDT (1126 GMT), the moon will officially turn full. And less than 11 hours earlier, at 8:48 p.m. EDT on Wednesday evening (0048 GMT on Oct. 17), the moon will also arrive at perigee, its closest point to Earth, at a distance of 221,938 miles (357,174 km) away.
The result of these two occurrences will be a 14% brighter-than-average full moon accompanied by unusually high and low tides later this week into the start of the weekend. Colloquially, a full moon that coincides with perigee is referred to as a "supermoon."
Dr. Fred Espenak, a retired NASA astrophysicist and eclipse expert, defines a supermoon as a full moon that occurs when the moon is within 90 percent of its closest approach to Earth. Dr. Espenak has compiled a list of all the supermoons (including those that fall under the 90 percent category) occurring during the 21st century. According to Dr. Espenak, there are four supermoons in 2024, in August, September, October and November. But this week's supermoon is the one where the full moon and perigee coincide closest together.
Last night's supermoon was the brightest of the year. Here's how the world captured the hunter's moon
If you noticed the Moon seemed a little brighter than usual on Thursday night, you weren't imagining it. It was a full moon but it was also what is called a "supermoon", the third of four supermoons in 2024. It was dubbed the "hunter supermoon" based on the seasons in the northern hemisphere (more on that later).
Thursday night was also the brightest supermoon of the year and, even though it was only a fraction brighter, that title was an added incentive for sky-watchers to look up. Here's a crowd of people gathered at Sydney's Bondi Beach to watch moonrise over the horizon.
A supermoon is a phenomenon where the Moon appears a little bigger and brighter than usual. This happens because the Moon orbits around Earth in an oval shape, which means there are times it is closer to our planet. But it's generally only called a supermoon when this lines up with a full moon phase.
Why the full moon that’s set to rise is the supermoon to watch
Keep your eyes along the horizon at dusk to witness a stunning lunar display rise this evening. The closest supermoon of the year will soon loom large and bright in the autumn sky. October’s hunter’s moon is set to peak at its fullest around 7:26 a.m. ET Thursday, but the silvery orb will appear round Wednesday evening through Friday morning, according to NASA.
This full moon is considered the third of four consecutive supermoons expected this year, NASA says. The celestial phenomenon happens a few times during every lunar cycle because the moon’s orbit is elliptical, meaning there are intervals when Earth’s only permanent natural satellite is closer or farther from the planet. Along the lunar orbital path, the point of closest proximity is known as perigee, which is when the moon is, on average, 226,000 miles (363,300 kilometers) from Earth. When a full moon phase coincides with perigee, a supermoon event occurs.
October’s moon is not actually larger or brighter than any other moon, but it may appear that way because it’s viewed near the horizon shortly after sunset, said Dr. Robin L. Shelton, a professor of physics at the University of Georgia. Many people associate the hunter’s moon with being orange in color as it rises, but the same could be said of all full moons. The color, Shelton explained, is a result of optical effects involving light passing through Earth’s atmosphere.
Harvest and hunter's moons
A harvest moon. Its orange color is due to greater Rayleigh scattering as the Moon appears close above the horizon, rather than being unique to harvest moons
The "harvest moon" and the "hunter's moon" are traditional names for the full moons in late summer and in the autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, usually in September and October, respectively. People may celebrate these occurrences in festivities such as the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.
The "harvest moon" (also known as the "barley moon" or "full corn moon") is the full moon nearest to the autumnal equinox (22 or 23 September), occurring anytime within two weeks before or after that date. The "hunter's moon" is the full moon following it. The names are recorded from the early 18th century. The Oxford English Dictionary entry for "harvest moon" cites a 1706 reference, and for "hunter's moon" a 1710 edition of The British Apollo, which attributes the term to "the country people" ("The Country People call this the Hunters-Moon.") The names became traditional in American folklore, where they are now often popularly attributed to Native Americans. The Feast of the Hunters' Moon is a yearly festival in West Lafayette, Indiana, held in late September or early October each year since 1968. In 2010 the harvest moon occurred on the night of the equinox itself (some 51⁄2 hours after the moment of equinox) for the first time since 1991, after a period known as the Metonic cycle.
All full moons rise around the time of sunset. Since the Moon moves eastward among the stars faster than the Sun, lunar culmination is delayed by about 50.47 minutes (on average) each day, thus causing moonrise to occur later each day.
Due to the high lunar standstill, the harvest and hunter's moons of 2007 were special because the time difference between moonrises on successive evenings was much shorter than average. The moon rose about 30 minutes later from one night to the next, as seen from about 40° N or S latitude (because the full moon of September 2007 rose in the northeast rather than in the east). Hence, no long period of darkness occurred between sunset and moonrise for several days after the full moon, thus lengthening the time in the evening when there is enough twilight and moonlight to work to get the harvest in.