Stand: October 16, 2024, 8:12 p.m
Von: Mark Stoffers
PressSplit
When the full moon is in the sky in October, you can marvel at the largest supermoon of 2024. However, there is a catch to the celestial spectacle.
Frankfurt – October 2024 will also have another supermoon. After astronomy fans were able to observe a supposed supermoon in August and a so-called “supermoon” in September, the full moon is once again shining in its most impressive splendor in the night sky this month. But when and at what time can the unofficial natural phenomenon be observed?
Supermoon in October: When the biggest full moon of the year appears in the sky – but there is a catch
To see the supermoon in October 2024, fans don’t have to become absolute night owls. However, there is a catch with the full moon in October. Finally, the celestial spectacle has a peculiarity that makes it impossible to observe the supermoon in all its glory. The moon reaches its full moon position at 1:26 p.m. on October 17th, so it cannot be admired with the naked eye during the day. As a result, the supermoon is already slowly beginning to wane again. People are also eagerly awaiting the supermoon night in Bavaria.
But at what time can the supermoon be seen in October? Because the shortest distance between the Earth and the moon is already in the past at the time of moonrise on October 17th. Loud ARD Alpha The full moon does not rise until 6:11 p.m. on October 17th and has already moved 357,581 kilometers away from Earth. The shortest distance of the supermoon to Earth in October, which astronomy enthusiasts can really admire, is the not quite full moon the night before.
Full moon in October 2024: At what time the biggest supermoon of the year can be observed
If you really want to see the supermoon in October at its closest distance from Earth to date, you should look at the sky on the night of October 16th to 17th. At 2:51 a.m. the not yet full moon reaches its closest point to the Earth and can also meet the definition of the proverbial supermoon at this time, even if it is not yet closest to the Earth due to its elliptical orbit.
The supermoon is not a technical astronomical term, but rather a colloquial term. A “supermoon” comes closer to Earth than other full moons and therefore appears larger and brighter. The full moon on October 17th will come even closer to Earth than the full moon in September, making it the largest “supermoon” of 2024.
Full moon in October: when does the supermoon fall under the unofficial definition
When is a full moon a supermoon?
The supermoon is not a recognized term in astronomy. That’s why there is no official definition of this phenomenon. The calculations are based on the following limit:
At a distance of less than 360,000 kilometers it is a supermoon. The supermoon not only appears larger in the sky, but also up to 30 percent brighter – because its surface appears larger and more light reaches Earth, according to NASA. On the other hand, when the moon is at its most distant point (406,740 kilometers), it appears up to 14 percent smaller, according to NASA.
What’s special about a supermoon?
Because the moon is closer to Earth at the time of a supermoon than usual, the full moon appears about seven to 14 percent larger in the night sky than on normal lunar days, according to NASA. The difference corresponds to the difference between a one-euro and a two-euro coin. As the area increases, more of the sun’s light is reflected by the moon, making it appear significantly brighter.
Supermoon in October 2024: The difference in the full moon cannot be seen with the naked eye
Nevertheless, the differences between the various supermoons can hardly be seen. Because observers are also missing comparisons with the supermoon in October 2024.
“However, the differences in size and brightness are not particularly dramatic due to the small distance – especially since we are not able to directly compare the different full moons in the sky. A ‘supermoon’ appears about 7 percent larger and 15 percent brighter than an average full moon. Compared to a ‘mini moon’, it is around 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter,” explains Dr. Björn Voss, director of the Hamburg Planetarium, the celestial spectacle.
Full moon in November 2025: When the next supermoon can be observed in the sky
Since a supermoon is a rather rare phenomenon that only occurs in this form every 13 to 14 months, astronomy fans also have to wait a while for the next celestial spectacle of this kind. The next full moon, which can be unofficially declared a supermoon, is expected to come within 356,980 kilometers of Earth on November 5, 2025.
That’s why fans of the celestial spectacle should mark the 16th and 17th of this month in red on their calendars for the supermoon in October.
