Just the time to see this week's Super Hunter's Moon at its best

If you had to pick just one full moon to see at moonrise in 2024, it would be October's Hunter's Moon.

The tenth full moon of 2024 – and the first fall in the Northern Hemisphere, the “Hunter's Moon” – is also known as the “Falling Leaves Moon” and the “Blood Moon”.

Here's everything you need to know about it, including when, where and how best to see it from your location:

When is the “Hunter’s Moon”?

The “Hunter’s Moon” will become full on Thursday, October 17th at 11:26 UTC/7:26 a.m. EDT. From North America, the best time to see it is during moonrise at dusk later in the day.

Best Time to See the Full Hunter's Moon

A full moon looks best when it appears on the eastern horizon just after the sun has set in the west. It will look more striking than usual and will be a beautiful, muted orange color. The best time to see it is a few minutes after the moon rises at your location. However, the exact location depends on your location.

Thursday, October 17th

• In New York, sunset is at 6:13 p.m. EDT and moonrise is at 6:14 p.m. EDT.
• In Los Angeles, sunset is at 6:17 p.m. PDT and moonrise is at 6:26 p.m. PDT.
• In London, the moonrise is at 5:52 p.m. BST and the sunset is at 6:04 p.m. BST.

Friday, October 18th

• In London, sunset is at 6:01pm BST and moonrise is at 6:10pm BST.

Here's how to see the full Hunter's Moon

Go somewhere high up facing east or visit an east-facing shoreline. From both locations you have a clear view of the horizon – and the best view of the rising “Hunter's Moon” if the sky is clear. The naked eye is perfect, but with binoculars you get a stunning close-up.

Why the “Hunter’s Moon” is the best “supermoon” of 2024

The “Hunter's Moon” will be the next and largest of the four “supermoon” full moons in 2024. It will be 222,055 miles (357,363 kilometers) from Earth.

A supermoon – also known as a perigee Full Moon – is slightly larger and brighter than the average full moon. The Moon's orbit around the Earth is a slight ellipse, so there is a near point (perigee) and a far point (climax) every month.

Astronomer Fred Espenak defines a supermoon as a perigee full moon that occurs “within 90% of its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit.” A supermoon can appear about 10% larger in apparent size. A supermoon generally appears brighter, which is easy to see if you observe the moon regularly.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon after the “Hunter's Moon” will be the “Beaver Moon” on Friday, November 15 at 9:28 p.m. UTC/4:28 p.m. EST – the second full moon of the fall and the eleventh of the twelve full moons of 2024.

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I wish you clear skies and big eyes.