October has been an unusual month when it comes to astronomical phenomena. After the sighting of yet another aurora borealis in the skies over Portugal and the passage of the “comet of the century”, here comes another event for those who like to gaze at the firmament: the Hunter’s Supermoon.
According to the specialized website “Star Walk”, this full moon will be visible from this Thursday, October 17. In addition, it is considered to be the largest of 2024. But why?
Because the moon will come as close to the Earth as possible. At perigee, the distance between them will be 357,364 km (for comparison, the average distance between the Earth and the Moon is 384,400 km),” reads the source cited above.
Why is it called the Hunter’s Supermoon?
This name was probably given by ancient civilizations who used this time of year to hunt. However, this is not the only name by which the October full moon is known.
According to some sources, there are other alternative names. For example, Seed Moon (South Africa), or Gentle Moon (China), among others.
When is it possible to observe another Supermoon?
The next and last Supermoon of the year is due to arrive on November 15 and is known as the Beaver Moon. One more reason to look up at the sky!