The sky has been full of exciting celestial events as of late, from a rare comet sighting to Earth receiving a second moon. Up next is the third supermoon of the year — the Hunter’s Moon! Not only is it a supermoon, it is also the brightest one of the year. This brilliant spectacle will reach its peak on Thursday and shine brightly through most of the weekend. Read on for all the details!
What is a supermoon?
A supermoon occurs when the moon reaches its closest orbital point to Earth during a full moon, according to NASA. The result is a moon that appears larger and brighter in the night sky. Plus, this one might have a yellow or orange hue — depending on cloud cover — aligning perfectly with all the spooky happenings in Miami this October!
What makes it the brightest supermoon?
The Hunter’s Moon will be the closest supermoon of the year, coming as close as 222,055 miles from the Earth. It is the third in a series of four back-to-back supermoons of 2024.
How to view the 2024 Hunter’s Moon
To view the Hunter’s Moon in all its glory, make sure to look up tonight (Thursday, October 17). To check the exact moonrise and moonset times for your area, use this Time & Date calculator. If you miss its peak, don’t worry — will appear especially large for about three days in total, so there’s time to take in all its splendor!
And while not the brightest, there’s also one more spectacular supermoon left of the year. The Beaver Moon will reach peak illumination on Friday, November 15.