On October 17, Earth observers will witness a recurring astronomical event — the monthly full moon. Traditionally known as the Hunter’s moon, the October full moon will also be the brightest of the lot, on account of our satellite entering its orbital perigee.
Hunter’s Full Moon
In just two days, people all over the world will once again witness the miraculously regular monthly event — the full moon. On average, the Moon shifts into its full phase in 29.5306 days. Which only makes sense, as it takes our satellite that exact amount of time to rotate its sunlit side towards Earth.
October’s full moon is traditionally known as the Hunter’s moon, though the name’s origins are rather obscure. According to popular theory, the title refers to the season of autumn which marks the start of the hunting season, with people gearing up for the hunt and generally preparing for the long winter.
Which would make a lot of sense, save for the fact that there is little evidence of that name’s existence prior to the early 20th century. We don’t know which groups used it or where. The first mention of the Hunter’s moon, alongside other full moon names in current use, dates back to the 1930s when it featured in the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Among Native Americans, who are believed to be the originators of the term, this phenomenon is known under various names. The Dakota call it Drying Rice Moon, while the Anishinaabe know it as Falling Leaves Moon, though Ojibwe, who are part of the Anishinaabe peoples, refer to it as Freezing Moon. In the same vein, the Haida people call it the Ice Moon.
Supermoon
October’s full moon is often described as a particularly bright one. So on nights like these, it’s supposedly much easier to carry out various agricultural tasks. This is not exactly true, but perhaps there’s a form of psychosomatic effect at play: after all, October Moon marks the start of shorter days and longer nights. It could be that our minds simply want to extend daylight hours for just a bit longer.
However, in October 2024, this will indeed be the brightest full moon of the year as our satellite will also enter its supermoon phase. Though widely used, the term has no precise and generally accepted mathematical or scientific definition. But we all know which phenomenon it refers to — when the Moon appears larger than usual. In reality, it only increases in size by about 7%, though the effect is still palpable.
Still, there is nothing supernatural about this event. Since the lunar orbit is elongated, the Moon’s phases are not an exact match to its rotational period around Earth. As a result, the full moon occurs at different times and sometimes coincides with the perigee – our satellite’s closest position to Earth.
The fact that these supermoons follow in such close succession is not at all surprising. After all, the orbital point where the full moon occurs shifts only slightly in relation to Earth — so no paranormal activity there.
When Is the Full Moon
Like any other full phase, the 2024 Hunter’s moon will occur at a specific time. In this case, at precisely 11:26 AM UTC, marking its maximum illumination by the Sun. In Kyiv, this will be at 14:26, in London at 12:26, and on the United States East Coast at 7:26 in the morning. This means that in the Northern Hemisphere, the event will occur during daylight.
But don’t be so quick to worry. The Moon will more or less look the same at its maximum illumination and a few hours after that point. So if you plan to admire our satellite in all its glory, you can do so in the evening at any time that suits you. In Kyiv, this will be at 17:49 local time, or 17:51 in London, and at 18:14 in New York, all occurring after sunset.
As it stands, the best way to observe this full moon is to wait for the evening. Our satellite will be gradually passing the Pisces constellation, eventually crossing into Aries. Moreover, it will remain in the sky throughout the night, setting in the west only in the morning.
