Tonight, see the Super Hunter's Moon, the largest and brightest full moon of the year

This week, sky watchers can witness the third in a series of four consecutive supermoons – a full moon that occurs near its closest point in Earth's orbit. As you admire the splendor of Earth's natural satellite, know that it is very special, even among supermoons.

October's full moon is the closest supermoon of the year, located about 222,055 miles from Earth. The September full moon was right behind it, 222,131 miles away. While any supermoon can appear larger and brighter than usual, this moon's proximity magnifies its impact.

The exact time of the full moon is Thursday, October 17th at 7:26 a.m. Eastern Time. But our natural satellite will appear fully lit Wednesday through Friday morning, offering skywatchers a stunning view, according to NASA's Gordon Johnston.

Here's what you need to know about the stunning “Super Hunter's Moon.”

What is a Supermoon?

As the moon orbits Earth, it follows an elliptical orbit – meaning that sometimes it is a little further from our planet and sometimes a little closer. The furthest point in its orbit is called apogee, and the closest point it approaches during a supermoon is called perigee. Generally, a supermoon refers to a full moon within at least 90 percent of perigee.

The moon doesn't get close enough to have a dramatic effect on us – the difference between supermoon tides and regular full moon tides is an “almost negligible” few centimeters, according to Royal Museums Greenwich. Still, it can make the moon particularly dazzling.

Compared to a normal full moon, a supermoon appears 7 percent larger in the sky. And compared to a “micromoon,” which is smaller than usual at apogee, a supermoon appears 14 percent larger. A direct image comparison makes this clear.

However, in practice the change is not that dramatic. Even an observer who pays close attention to the waxing and waning of the moon may not notice that a supermoon appears larger than a normal full moon.

But what might stand out is its brightness. A supermoon appears “a noticeable amount” more luminous than the average full moon, he writes EarthSkyThis is Marcy Curran. These closer-than-usual full moons could be 16 percent brighter than normal.

When is the next supermoon?

After this week's supermoon, skywatchers waiting for another supermoon won't have to wait long – November's full moon is another supermoon, the last of the year.

There will be three supermoons in 2025, one each month in October, November and December. A supermoon in January 2026 will complete this sequence of four large and bright full moons.

Supermoons will continue to occur at regular intervals; and they always occur in groups. But next time we'll get four in a row, after the series that starts next year, it won't be until 2040.

What is a Hunter's Moon?

Last month's full moon, which coincided with a partial lunar eclipse, was called the Harvest Moon. It was given this name because the full moon that year was closest to the autumnal equinox on September 22nd.

Whichever full moon immediately follows the harvest moon is in turn called the hunter's moon, a term that first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1710.

“Because fields were recently cleared under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily spot deer and other animals searching for remaining scraps,” writes Catherine Boeckmann for the Old Farmer's Almanac. “Foxes and wolves also came to hunt these animals.”

Other names for the event include “Dying Grass Moon,” “Traveling Moon,” and “Sanguine Moon” or “Blood Moon.” These names are traced back to the Algonquin tribes in what is now the northeastern United States, according to NASA.

What else can be seen in the sky?

Although the supermoon is a stunning phenomenon, its glow in the sky can obscure other celestial sights.

“Most astronomers hate the full moon because its bright light makes it difficult to observe other objects,” Bill Cooke, head of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office, tells Marcia Dunn of the Associated Press. “So it’s a little hard for us to wax poetic about it, even if it is the biggest supermoon of 2024.”

Despite the moonlight, you should still be able to see several planets. Four will be visible in the evening hours – Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars – with the last, Mars, said to rise at 11:22 p.m. Eastern Time Space.comThis is Jesse Emspak.

And don't forget to look west at twilight to catch a glimpse of the passing comet A3, nicknamed Tsuchinshan ATLAS, on its way out of our solar system. As the month progresses, the comet gradually appears higher in the sky, but also becomes dimmer. The moonlight may make its tail less visible than usual this week, but it will still be a beautiful sight, Cooke tells the AP. If the comet ever returns, astronomers say it won't be for 80,000 years.