Fall is officially here (on the calendar at least), and the first full moon of the season will be a supermoon you won't want to miss!

Wait, Did You Say Supermoon?

YEP! The first full moon of the fall season this year is going to be a supermoon.  So what exactly is a supermoon?

According to the Natural History Museum, a supermoon is a full moon that appears bigger and brighter than normal full moons.  It is because a supermoon happens when the moon is at the closest point to Earth during its orbit.

Supermoons aren't uncommon, and we typically see 3-4 a year, but that doesn't mean they still don't make for a stunning celestial event.   The way supermoons light up the night sky is definitely a sight to see!

A full Moon occurs once in each lunar cycle, which lasts 29.5 days. But not every full Moon is a supermoon - there are only usually three or four supermoons in a year. Between 2020 and 2025, there will be four each year.

During a supermoon, the Moon is at a stage where it is closest to Earth. (National History Museum)

This year, the Hunter's Moon will be the third of 4 supermoons we will see in 2024.

The First Full Moon of Fall

Fall officially began on September 22nd, so the first full moon of the season will take place in October.  The full moon that falls during the month of October is typically called the Hunter's Moon.  So why is that?  According to the Almanac, the Harvest Moon and Hunter's Moon are unique in that their names are tied to the Autumn Equinox and not based in folklore. The Harvest Moon falls closest to the fall equinox, and the Hunter's Moon is the one that follows directly after.

However, it is believed the Hunter's Moon gets its name because it is the time of year that hunters will need to begin to prepare for the winter.

This particular full Moon is commonly referred to as the full Hunter’s Moon. It is believed that this name originates from the fact that it was a signal for hunters to prepare for the upcoming cold winter by going hunting. This is because animals were beginning to fatten up in preparation for the winter season. Moreover, since fields had recently been cleared out under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily spot deer and other animals that had come out to search for remaining scraps. Additionally, foxes and wolves would also come out to prey on these animals. (Almanac)

When to See the Hunter's Supermoon

The Hunter's Supermoon will reach peak illumination at 7:26 Eastern Time on October 17th.  However, Almanac says to keep an eye on the sky starting October 16th, because the Hunter's full moon is a supermoon, it will appear huge and bright in the sky for a few nights before and after the 17th.   So be prepared for a few bright nights in October!