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The next full moon is coming tonight, and it’s a big one.
This month’s Hunter’s moon is a supermoon, appearing visibly larger and brighter in the sky. Here’s what Hoosiers should know about this and other astronomical events happening in October.
When is the full moon in October 2024?
The Hunter’s Moon, a name derived from Native American, European and colonial sources, should reach peak illumination by Thursday, Oct. 17, according to NASA. The moon’s phases this month are:
Will the moon be full on Halloween?
No, the moon won’t be full on Halloween night in 2024. In fact, you’ll hardly be able to see it at all. Our lunar satellite will shine only at 1% illumination, according to NASA. That’s dark, so if you’ve got little trick-or-treaters, be sure and bring a flashlight. You might also want to add something reflective to their costume as a safety precaution.
The next full moon on Halloween won’t happen for a while
The next full moon on Halloween won’t happen until 2039, according to EarthSky. Why such a long wait? Full moons on Halloween are rare, writes the Old Farmer’s Almanac. They occur once every 18-19 years. The last time the United States saw a full moon on All Hallows’ Eve was in 2020.
What time is the moon full in Indianapolis, IN?
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 7:04 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, crossing the meridian at 1:14 a.m. before setting at 8:06 a.m. Friday.
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Why is it called the Hunter’s Moon?
October’s full moon is called the “Hunter’s Moon,” but its name can change from year to year.
A Hunter’s Moon, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, is the first full moon that occurs after a Harvest Moon, which lands around the autumnal equinox. The last time we had a Hunter’s Moon in November was in 2017. Other names for October’s full moon from Native American tribes include the Drying Rice Moon, Freezing Moon, and Migrating Moon.
What makes the October’s 2024 supermoon so ‘super’?
The “super” in supermoon often has more to do with its proximity to Earth and less, some say, than how it looks in size.
Supermoons can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year. Visually, that might not leave much of an impression, but the proximity of a supermoon has an affect on Earth, causing higher tides than normal.
How close will October’s supermoon be to Earth?
Pretty darn close, at least by lunar standards. The moon’s orbit around Earth is not a perfect circle, writes NASA. It varies in distance, from about 221,457 miles to 252,712 miles away. That’s because of the constant tug of gravity between the moon, Earth and sun.
On Thursday, the moon will be 222,095 miles away from our planet, according to NASA, making it a supermoon.
When is the next supermoon of 2024?
The next supermoon happens in November. It’s also the last one of 2024. According to NASA, November’s full moon will shine at a distance of 224,385 miles from Earth. By December, the moon will be fainter and further away by another roughly 6,000 miles.
Sometimes the moon appears red or orange. Here’s why
During a partial lunar eclipse, the moon passes through only part of the Earth’s shadow, or umbra, entering into an imperfect alignment with the sun and Earth. As it does, the moon will appear to darken.
So why does it look red? According to NASA, that’s because of how sunlight strikes the moon’s surface after passing through our atmosphere.
Colors with shorter wavelengths, such as blues and violets, scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, which include red and orange. The more dust or clouds in Earth’s atmosphere during a lunar eclipse, the redder the moon appears.
October comet: How to see ‘comet of the century’ in Indiana before it disappears
More astronomical events in October 2024, per NASA
If you plan on observing the night sky this month, writes NASA, keep the following dates in mind for October 2024:
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All month – Look for Venus low in the west just after sunset. Saturn can be seen toward the southeast as soon as it gets dark. Mars rises around midnight and Jupiter rises in the first half of the night (rising earlier as the month goes on).
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October 14-31 – Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) becomes visible low in the west following sunset. If the comet’s tail is well-illuminated by sunlight, it could be visible to the unaided eye. The first week and a half (Oct. 14-24) is the best time to observe, using binoculars or a small telescope.
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October 17 – Full moon.
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October 20 – The Moon rises near Jupiter, with the giant planet looking extremely bright. You should be able to find them low in the east after around 10 pm.
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October 23-24 – Early risers will be able to spot Mars together with the Moon, high overhead in the south both mornings.
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October 25 – Europa is easily observable to one side of Jupiter by itself this morning using binoculars.
When is the next full moon in November 2024?
The Beaver Moon should reach peak illumination by Friday, Nov. 15, 2024.
Full moons in 2024: Here’s when every full moon shines this year.
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at JTuftsReports.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: When is the moon full in October? Here’s when you can see the supermoon