Stand: October 15, 2024, 4:59 a.m
Von: Mark Stoffers
PressSplit
When the full moon appears in the sky in mid-October, we will experience a “supermoon” – the “biggest” one in 2024. But there is a catch.
Frankfurt – October also has another supermoon in store. While astronomy fans were able to marvel at 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. But when and at what time can the celestial spectacle be observed?
Supermoon in October: When the biggest full moon of the year can be seen – 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 admire the supermoon in its full glory. Because the moon reaches its full moon position on October 17th at 1:26 p.m. The supermoon then begins to slowly wane – a detail that cannot yet be seen with the naked eye at this time.
But at what time can the supermoon be seen in October? 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 then already moved 357,581 kilometers away from Earth. This was actually achieved 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 with the naked eye at its closest distance to 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 thus becomes the proverbial supermoon.
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 “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 furthest 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 light from the sun is reflected by the moon, making it appear significantly brighter.
Supermoon in October: When the full moon corresponds to the unrecognized term
The Planetarium Hamburg also has an unofficial definition of the unrecognized term. There is talk of a “supermoon” as soon as the moon reaches its full moon position at perigee, i.e. close to the earth. The opposite is a so-called “mini moon” at a distance from the earth, the apogee.
Supermoon in October 2024: Moon illusion makes the moon appear even bigger
The supermoon is particularly spectacular and photogenic when it is just above the horizon directly after moonrise or shortly before moonset. Then a psychological phenomenon called the lunar illusion causes the moon to appear even larger to us.
These two phenomena occur because the moon’s orbit around the Earth is elliptical. The distances between the Earth and the moon vary between 406,000 and 356,000 kilometers.
Supermoon in October 2024: The difference in the full moon cannot be seen with the naked eye
“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 planetarium.
Full moon in November 2025: When can the next supermoon be admired?
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.
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