What is a Super Hunter Moon? Tonight’s full moon explained

There were four supermoons in 2024, with the first three occurring on April 8th, August 19th (which was a blue supermoon), and September 18th. Now a fourth Super Hunter Moon will take place on October 17th. But what does it actually mean? Here’s what you need to know about the rare lunar event.

What is a Hunter’s Moon?

The “Hunter’s Moon” is a full moon that usually appears in October. Although the moon rises 50 minutes later each day, the Hunter’s Moon typically rises 30 minutes later, meaning sunset and moonrise are closer together than normal.

“This means there are longer periods of light at this time of year, which is why these moons are traditionally used by hunters and farmers to get their work done,” explains Universe Today. This light traditionally made October the peak hunting season, hence the name.

What does a hunter’s moon look like?

According to EarthSky author Deborah Boyd, it is the proximity to the horizon that gives the Hunter’s Moon its warm color. “The orange color of a moon near the horizon is a real physical effect,” explains Boyd. “This is because when you look toward the horizon you are looking through a greater thickness of the Earth’s atmosphere than when you look up and over your head. The atmosphere scatters blue light – that’s why the sky looks blue. The greater thickness of atmosphere toward a horizon scatters blue light most effectively but allows red light to pass through to your eyes. Therefore, a full moon near the horizon – any full moon near the horizon – takes on a yellow, orange or reddish hue.

What is a Super Hunter Moon?

The moon will look even bigger and brighter this year as it coincides with a supermoon. A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth during its orbit. This causes the moon to appear about 14% larger in the sky, which is why the Hunter’s Moon will also look particularly impressive this month. And if you miss it? The next supermoon is predicted for November 14th, when we can expect the largest full moon of the year.

What does the supermoon mean for me?

Despite the name, the supermoon does not have a super effect on us. “The effects of a supermoon are imperceptible and far smaller than in other everyday situations, such as near a mountain or even a large building,” says astronomy expert Larry Sessions.

So we won’t keep our fingers crossed that miraculous superpowers will be discovered.

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