Hunter's Moon 2024: Largest supermoon this year and October full moon to light UK skies - spiritual meaning, when to see and how to get best view

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October’s full moon is set to be the brightest supermoon of the year.

The full moon will start being visible on Thursday (17 October) and will be a Hunter's Moon. This month's full moon is not only the Hunter's Moon, but also the third of four back-to-back supermoons.

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The Hunter's Moon used to signal to farmers that it was time to start preparing for winter, and its bright reflection provided good visibility to hunting animals to keep them fed through the chilly months ahead. “Animals are beginning to fatten up ahead of winter, and since the farmers had recently cleaned out their fields under the harvest moon, hunters could easily see the deer and other animals that had come out to root through the remaining scraps,” The Old Farmer's Almanac said.

The earliest use of the term "Hunter's Moon" mentioned in the Oxford English Dictionary is from 1710. This Hunter's Moon will also be a supermoon, which means it will appear a little larger and more vivid to the naked eye because it it slightly closer to Earth - around 7% closer than usual.

October’s full moon is set to be the brightest supermoon of the year. (Photo: AFP via Getty Images)October’s full moon is set to be the brightest supermoon of the year. (Photo: AFP via Getty Images)
October’s full moon is set to be the brightest supermoon of the year. (Photo: AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

When can I see it?

This year's Hunter's Moon will take place on Thursday 17 October, and it will appear like a full moon for three days. "The reason for that is that although it moves further around to the east in the sky, which would mean it rises later, the difference is a bit less because it's also moving north at the same time," Robert Massey from the Royal Astronomical Society told ITV News. He added: "That means that the moonrise point, the time at which the moon rises, doesn't change as much as you would think around the full moon."

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How to get the best view

The best time to catch the moon is when it's rising, which means looking towards the northwest around sunset, which will be 6.02pm on Thursday evening. The Met Office is currently forecasting a fair amount of cloud for Thursday, which could make it challenging to get a good view.

If the skies are clear, you should be able to see it looking to the east after sunset on Thursday, though the moon will reach its peak around midday. A telescope or binoculars will also provide a closer look.

As the moon rises, it may look orange or even red, especially if it's low on the horizon. This is because the moon's light is filtered as it travels through more of the Earth's atmosphere.

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