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ARTICLE VIEW:
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Why the full moon that’s set to rise is the supermoon to watch
By Gina Park and Ashley Strickland, CNN
Updated:
12:00 PM EDT, Wed October 16, 2024
Source: CNN
Keep your eyes along the horizon at dusk to witness a stunning lunar
display rise this evening. The closest 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 .
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, . When a full moon
phase coincides with perigee, a supermoon event occurs.
What makes a supermoon special
Supermoon is a term that describes the moon when it is closer to Earth
than normal.
Typically, the moon orbits an average distance of about from its host
planet, but during this month’s supermoon, it will be just , making
it the closest full moon of 2024.
During a supermoon event, the orb may appear as much as 8% larger and
16% brighter than an average-size full moon, according to .
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.
Why the full moon is called hunter’s moon
The hunter’s moon is the first full moon after the autumnal equinox,
which occurred on September 22 this year. The lunar event marks the
changing of the seasons.
The name originated from indigenous people, who benefited from the
bright appearance of the moon as hunters prepared for long winters.
Hunting also tended to be easier during this time of year because the
fields had already been cleared out, according to .
Other names for October’s full moon across various include the moon
of the first frost from the Potawatomi nation, time when the corn is
taken in from the Apache tribe or falling leaves moon from the
Anishinaabe people.
Traditions around this time include the , an annual re-creation of the
mid-1700s fall gatherings of French and Native Americans at Fort
Ouiatenon, 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) southwest of West Lafayette,
Indiana.
The hunter’s moon is expected to be joined by Jupiter, a red giant
star called Aldebaran and the star cluster Pleiades, according to .
Depending on your location, these cosmic wonders may be visible Friday
and Saturday night through dawn.
Upcoming celestial events
, which just made its closest pass of Earth on Saturday, is visible in
the west just after sunset. Look for the celestial wonder and its long
tail streaking across the sky through October 24. While it may be
visible with the naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope will
certainly help. Don’t miss your chance to spot the comet, which
won’t circle back around again for at least 80,000 years.
Keep an eye out for bright Jupiter, which will appear near the moon low
in the eastern sky around 10 p.m. on October 20, and Mars will look
like a red dot near the moon high overhead in the early morning hours
of October 23 and 24, according to .
The beaver moon on November 15 is the fourth and final supermoon of the
year. And the cold moon on December 15 will be the last full moon of
2024.
And here are peak dates for remaining fall and winter meteor showers,
according to the .
• Orionids: October 21-22
• Southern Taurids: November 5-6
• Northern Taurids: November 11-12
• Leonids: November 17-18
• Geminids: December 13-14
• Ursids: December 21-22
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