Do you enjoy observing the stars? So much the better, because at the end of the year, there’s no shortage of astronomical phenomena: super moons, shooting star showers, aurora borealis… On October 17, a new supermoon should be visible in the sky. And this one has a special feature: it’s bigger and brighter than the others. We tell you all about it!
October supermoon: the biggest of the year
After the Harvest Moon, the Hunter’s Moon is just around the corner. It’s called the Hunters’ Moon because its strong luminosity enabled hunters to capture game.
This year, the Hunter’s Moon falls on October 17, with its peak scheduled for 1:26 pm! Although it will obviously be below the horizon by then, you’ll still be able to see it at sunset that evening. To get the best view of it, you’ll need to look eastwards and have a clear sky, free of light pollution if possible.
Supermoons are up to 30% larger than normal moons! According to NASA: “In general, this term is used to describe a full moon that is at least 90% of the way to its perigee”. As the moon is closer to the Earth than usual, it naturally appears larger.
If the weather is bad, or you simply can’t see it, don’t panic! It will be full for three days, on October 16, 17 and 18!