What is a Super Hunter's Moon? Tonight's full moon explained
There have been four Supermoons in 2024, with the first three taking place on 8th April, 19th August (which was a blue Supermoon) and the 18th September. Now, a fourth super Hunter's moon is taking place on the 17th October. 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 which typically appears during the month of October. Although the Moon rises 50 minutes later each day, the Hunter's Moon usually rises 30 minutes later, which means that sunset and moonrise are closer together than normal.
"This means there is prolonged periods of light during this time of the the year, which is the reason why these moons have traditionally been used by hunters and farmers to finish their work," Universe Today explains. This light traditionally made October the prime time to hunt, hence the name.
What does a Hunter's Moon look like?
According to EarthSky writer Deborah Boyd, it's the close location to the horizon that gives the Hunter's Moon its warm colour. "The orange colour of a moon near the horizon is a true physical effect," Boyd explains. "It stems from the fact that - when you look toward the horizon - you are looking through a greater thickness of Earth's atmosphere than when you gaze up and overhead. The atmosphere scatters blue light - that's why the sky looks blue. The greater thickness of atmosphere in the direction of a horizon scatters blue light most effectively, but it lets red light pass through to your eyes. So a full moon near the horizon - any full moon near the horizon - takes on a yellow or orange or reddish hue."
What is a Super Hunter's Moon?
The moon will look even bigger and brighter this year, because it's coinciding with a supermoon. A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth during its orbit. This results in the moon appearing around 14% larger in the sky, which is also why the Hunter's Moon will look particularly amazing this month. And if you miss it? The next supermoon is forecast for 14 November, when we can expect to see the largest full moon of the year.
What does the Supermoon mean for me?
Despite the name, the supermoon doesn't have a super effect on us. "The effects of a supermoon are imperceptible, and far smaller than those encountered in other everyday situations, such as being near a mountain or even a large building," says astronomy expert Larry Sessions.
We won't keep our fingers crossed for sitings of miraculous superpowers, then.
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