October supermoon to light up the sky Thursday. What to know about the 2024 hunter's moon

What better way to celebrate spooky season than with a full moon?

October's full moon , also known as the hunter's moon, is expected to cause an eerie sight, nearly one week after the northern lights lit up the night sky. The upcoming hunter's moon is also the first full moon of fall and the closest supermoon of the year, according to Space.com .

Here's everything you need to know about the 2024 hunter's moon.

When is the full moon in October 2024?

According to USA TODAY , the hunter's moon rises Thursday in the eastern sky around sunset. The full moon reaches peak illumination at 7:26 a.m. ET. However, it will be below the horizon at that time, "so wait until sunset to watch it rise and take its place in the sky," the Old Farmer's Almanac states .

What is a hunter's moon?

A hunter's moon is the first full moon after a harvest moon, which lands around the autumnal equinox, per the Old Farmer's Almanac. Harvest moons occur in either September or October, and hunter's moons appear in October or November.

Why is it called the hunter's moon?

It is believed that hunters used the full moon as a signal to venture out and hunt in preparation for the upcoming cold winter, hence the term "hunter's moon." During this time, hunters could spot deer and other game more easily because fields had recently been reaped under the harvest moon. Other predatory creatures, such as foxes and wolves, would also come out to hunt their prey.

Sanguine or blood moon are other common names for the hunter's moon. These terms are believed to be derived from the blood of hunting or the changing color of fall leaves. Other nicknames for October’s full moon include the falling leaves moon, the migrating moon, the drying rice moon and the freezing moon.

When is the best time to see the 2024 hunter's moon?

The full moon reaches peak illumination at 7:26 a.m. ET. Because it will be below the horizon, the Old Farmer's Almanac suggests viewers wait until sunset to watch it rise.

Moonrise for the Cincinnati area should happen around 6:59 p.m., crossing the meridian at 1:07 a.m. and setting by 7:58 a.m. Friday.

Four planets will be visible during the 2024 hunter's moon

Space.com reports four planets will be visible to the naked eye during Thursday's hunter's moon: Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars. They will all rise in the hours before or after the full moon rises, depending on your location, USA TODAY reports.

Will there be a full moon on Halloween 2024?

There won't be a full moon on Halloween this year, as full moons only occur on All Hallow's Eve once every 18 to 19 years . The last full moon on Halloween happened in 2020, so the next one isn't due until 2039.

The moon will be approximately 1% illuminated in Greater Cincinnati on Halloween this year.

When is the next full moon in 2024?

There will be two more full moons this year, occurring Friday, Nov. 15 (the beaver moon) and Sunday, Dec. 15 (the cold moon), per Astronomy.com .

Contributing: Mariyam Muhammad, Columbus Dispatch; Doyle Rice, USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: October supermoon to light up the sky Thursday. What to know about the 2024 hunter's moon