Largest supermoon of the year will be visible for three days

The ‘Hunter’s Moon‘, also known as the ‘Harvest Supermoon’, has been illuminating the night sky since Wednesday October 16 and will remain visible for approximately three days until 18 October.

The moon will reach its peak intensity this morning, U.S. local time, according to American network NBC.

It is set to be the largest and brightest supermoon of the year, with the moon positioned 357,364 kilometres from Earth, as reported by the meteorological platform Meteovista and cited by the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

“While a supermoon is technically larger and brighter than a regular full moon, it appears only about 7% larger, which may be a subtle difference to the human eye, depending on other conditions,” the Almanac states.

“As the moon drifts towards the horizon around sunset, it may appear larger and orange.”

The ‘Hunter’s Moon’ follows immediately after the harvest moon. Its name, rooted in Native American practices and European customs, refers to the bright moonlight that aided hunters in tracking migratory prey during autumn.

This mid-October moon traditionally marked the beginning of winter preparations.

Depending on the tradition, it is also known as the ‘Migrating Moon’ or the ‘Falling Leaves Moon’, signalling the end of the harvest period and the onset of cold autumn nights.

A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit.

During this period, the moon appears about 7% larger and 14% brighter than a typical full moon.

This October supermoon is particularly noteworthy as it is the most spectacular of the year, being the second supermoon of 2024, following one in September.

The moon has been visible at its best since yesterday at sunset. When near the horizon, it takes on an orange or reddish hue due to atmospheric refraction.