Why the Hunter’s Moon Should Be on Your Family Calendar
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It's a great opportunity to teach kids about the moon.
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GettyImages/RNMitra
Fact checked by Sarah ScottFact checked by Sarah ScottEvery year, there are about 12 full moons, or one about every 29 days. It's such a common occurrence that full moons can almost seem routine. But this month's full moon cycle, which is taking place on October 16, 2024, through early October 17, 2024, (depending on where you live), will be far from routine.October ushers in what will be the biggest and brightest full moon of 2024, according to NASA. And that's not all, it will also be the brightest Hunter's Moon of the past 17 years. Meaning, it will be a truly memorable event for families to witness, including children of all ages. The display will also offer an engaging teaching moment about the cycles of the moon.But what is a Hunter's Moon exactly and why is it given that name? Here's everything families need to know to make the most of this spectacular celestial display. What Is Special About a Hunter’s Moon?While it may not necessarily be a widely known fact, the 12 full moons that occur each year have their own name. In many cases, those names were originated by First Nations peoples. The full moon that occurs in February, for instance, is often referred to as the Snow Moon, while May's full moon was given the name Flower or Flowering Moon, and September's is Corn Moon, to name just a few.The origin of the name Hunter's Moon, however, is likely linked to hunting traditions and perhaps Colonial or European folklore."It may be that the Hunter’s Moon got its name, because by this time of year, farmers had generally harvested their crops, and it was time to procure food by hunting game," says Bill Nye, the famous science educator and CEO of The Planetary Society. "Perhaps also, in northern areas, seeing game animals was easier in moonlight; fields were nearly bare and trees had begun to lose their leaves."Some First Nations peoples dubbed this moon the Blood Moon, Travel Moon, or Dying Grass Moon. No matter which name it's known by, this month's occurrence is special: It will be the biggest and brightest Hunter's Moon since 2007. And that's because it will also be what's known as a supermoon."This year, the Hunter's Moon is the third in a string of four supermoons and the largest of all four," says Alex Gianninas, PhD, assistant teaching professor of astronomy at Connecticut College's Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geophysics."Supermoons occur when the full moon coincides with the moon being at its closest point to the Earth in its elliptical orbit and it appears 14% bigger and 30% brighter than when the moon is a micro moon, at the furthest point in its orbit," continues Dr. Gianninas. As Dr. Gianninas explains, because this Hunter's Moon is the closest and brightest full moon of 2024, it is known as a perigee supermoon. The increased brightness associated with perigee supermoons means they're often easier to see. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa)
When To See the Hunter’s MoonThe timing of when this week's supermoon or Hunter's Moon will be visible varies based on where you're located in the United States, or the world.The Weather Network, for instance, explains that the best time to see this moon "is when it is rising in the eastern sky Wednesday night, when it is setting in the west Thursday morning, or when it is rising again in the east on Thursday evening."Dr. Gianninas shares, "Since a full moon occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth compared to the sun, it will rise in the east at sunset, be at its highest near midnight, and then set in the west at sunrise the next morning."NASA, meanwhile, points out that this special moon will occur specifically at about 7:26 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, October 17 adding: "This will be late Wednesday night for the International Date Line West time zone and early Friday morning from New Zealand Time eastwards to the International Date Line. The Moon will appear full for about three days around this time, from Tuesday evening through Friday morning."And one additional note: Unlike during the recent solar eclipse, no matter where you happen to be located, there's no special equipment required for families hoping to take in the supermoon or Hunter's Moon. "No telescope is needed to see the moon, it is easily visible to the naked eye," says Dr. Gianninas.Why Families Should Pay Attention to the Hunter’s MoonWhether you have a budding astronomer in your brood or not, the rare Hunter's Moon is worth getting outside to take a look at. These types of special celestial events provide a learning opportunity about the cycles of the moon, say experts."If you ask many people in everyday situations if they know the phase of the moon, they generally don’t. We don’t need to these days—our nights are lit with electricity rather than moonlight," says Nye, adding, "I’m glad we’re talking about it; the motion of Earth’s moon affects ecosystems the world around."Chris Mihos, PhD, astronomy professor at Case Western Reserve University, adds, "It gives families a great opportunity to go outside and see the moon and talk to children about how the moon's appearance changes over the course of each month as it goes through the different phases from New Moon to Full Moon and back again."There's so much more for children to learn, too."Parents can teach their kids that the moon doesn't go around the Earth in a perfect circle orbit; it’s actually an ellipse," says Dr. Gianninas.As Nye further explains, "The elliptical shape of our moon’s orbit causes it to be a little closer to Earth during some full moons and a little farther away during other full moons."During the course of this orbit, the moon is located at various distances from the planet. Those distances range anywhere from about 226,000 miles and 251,000 miles, NASA explains. And when the moon is especially close, it becomes a supermoon, which appears larger and brighter. How cool is that? For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents.
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