Don’t miss it: The “Hunter” supermoon, the largest and brightest full moon of 2024, is about to reach peak illumination.
The full Hunter’s Moon, a supermoon, rose in the sky for the first time Wednesday morning. According to Chicago’s Adler Planetarium, this is the “nearest full supermoon” of the year.
“Last month’s full moon was about 223,000 miles from Earth, which is considerably closer than the average Earth-Moon distance of 239,000 miles, making it a supermoon,” Adler said. “This month’s full Moon will be even closer to Earth than last month’s.”
The Adler added that a full supermoon is estimated to appear “up to 30% brighter and nearly 15% larger than a full moon” at its farthest point from Earth.
Here’s what you need to know about the Super Hunter Moon and how to spot it.
When will the supermoon peak?
Hunter’s supermoon began setting at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport at 5 a.m. Wednesday and was visible Wednesday evening and all night Thursday. It is expected to reach peak light at 6:26 a.m. Thursday, under clear skies.
Where does the name “Hunter’s Moon” come from?
“When the leaves fall and the deer get bigger, it’s time to hunt!” NBC 5 meteorologist Alicia Roman talked about the name “Hunter’s Moon.”
According to the Royal Museums Greenwich, the “Hunter’s Moon” was named by Native Americans, so because it gives hunters longer periods of night to stalk their prey during the autumn months.
Other cultures named the moon “Moon of Travel” and “Moon of the Dying Grass,” according to the website.
What makes this month’s “supermoon” special?
According to NASA scientists, the Moon will reach perigee Wednesday evening, its closest point to Earth in its orbit around the planet.
About 11 hours later, the full moon will occur around 6:26 a.m. Thursday, making the moon brighter and larger than normal.
What is a “supermoon”?
According to experts, a “supermoon” occurs when the Moon is less than 90% of its closest approach distance to Earth. This distance is approximately 221,938 miles, according to NASA.
A “supermoon” appears slightly larger in the sky and much brighter than a moon at its apogee, or at its farthest point from Earth in its orbit. According to the Adler Planetarium, a “supermoon” can appear up to 30% brighter and 15% larger than a “micromoon.”
This month’s “supermoon” is one of four consecutive supermoons that Earth is experiencing, but will ultimately be closest to the calendar year 2024.
