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The biggest supermoon of the year will light up the night sky this week.
October's full moon, also known as the Hunter moon, will be the third supermoon of 2024.
Supermoons appear about 30 percent brighter and 15 percent larger than a full moon at its farthest point from Earth.
The Hunter Moon will be at its fullest at 7:30 a.m. ET on October 17, with the best views in the eastern sky as the moon rises.
But it will also appear bright and full the day before and after.
Hunter's Moon, the largest supermoon of the year, will light up the night sky this week
This exceptionally large and bright moon will appear in the constellation Pisces, which is located northeast of Aquarius and northwest of Cetus, the sea monster.
As the moon rises, it will appear about halfway between Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter will be below and to the left of the Moon, while Saturn will be above and to the right.
And on Sunday we can see a double celestial feature when the moon rises with Jupiter.
Supermoons appear larger and brighter when they are closer to the horizon, so the best time to see them will be just after moonrise or just before moonset.
This is because when it is close to the horizon, there are objects such as trees and buildings that also compare the size of the moon.
This creates an optical illusion that makes the moon appear larger than when it is high in the sky with no nearby objects to compare it to.
The moon will be so big and bright that it should be easily seen across the United States, but be sure to check the weather forecast ahead of time. Cloudy skies could obscure the view.
As for your viewing location, try to choose one with a clear view of the horizon, such as a beach, hill, or field.
Supermoons occur when the full moon is at “perigee,” the point where it is closest to Earth.
If you live in the city, you may want to head out for darker skies, as light pollution can dim the moon's brightness.
To see the details of the moon up close, such as craters, be sure to bring some binoculars and a telescope with you.
Supermoons occur when the full moon is perigee, or the closest point to Earth in its elliptical (or oval) orbit. As the Moon orbits our planet, its distance varies between approximately 221,829 miles and 252,898 miles away, according to NASA.
This week, the full moon will make its closest approach to Earth this year, just 222,056 miles from our planet.
The Full Hunter Moon gets its name from the Algonquian Native American tribes.
When this moon rose each October, it indicated that it was time to go hunting in preparation for winter, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
But October's full moon is also known by other names, including Dying Grass Moon, Journey Moon, Sanguine Moon and Waking Moon, according to AccuWeather.com.
The Hunter Moon will also be the first full moon of autumn, which began on September 22, the day of the autumn equinox. The last full moon, which was also a supermoon, occurred on September 17.
Supermoons occur three to four times a year and always occur in consecutive months.
The next full moon, and the last supermoon of the year, will occur on November 15.