When is the full moon in October? When to catch Ohio's hunter’s moon

The October full moon will be the third of four consecutive supermoons this year, appearing bigger and brighter and it will shine for days.

October's full hunter moon orbits closer to Earth than all the other full moons this year so far, making it a special supermoon that appears brighter and larger for several days of viewing — helpful to Ohio's hunters.

Here's when you can see the October supermoon.

When is the full moon in October 2024?

The next full moon will be on Thursday, Oct. 17, with peak illumination at 7:26 a.m. Eastern. It will be below the horizon, so wait until sunset to watch it rise and appear in the sky.

Similar to September's full moon, the hunter’s moon will rise around the same time for several nights.

• 🌑 New moon : Oct. 2
• 🌓 First quarter : Oct. 10
• 🌕 Full moon : Oct. 17
• 🌗 Last quarter : Oct. 24

Why is it called the hunter's moon?

The hunter’s moon name originates from the traditional hunting season, as the brighter lunar light allowed hunters to track and gather game in preparation for the frigid days and nights of the winter to come.

According to the Farmer's Almanac , October marked the season in the Northern Hemisphere, where the falling leaves and lasting moonlight made it easier to see and hunt animals at night and the brush is not as thick making hunting and tracking easier.

In the mid-to late fall when animals are fattened off the late summer harvest, game animals, like deer, turkey and pheasants are traditionally hunted in Ohio.

The term, hunter's moon traces back to 1710, albeit it is also known as sanguine or blood moon, also referencing the blood from hunting or the color of changing autumn leaves.

Pennsylvania is one of the top hunting states in the country with the highest hunter density according to the National Deer Association.

What is a supermoon?

A supermoon happens when the moon's orbit is closest to the Earth at the same time the moon is full. According to NASA , at approximately 226,000 miles from Earth, the full moon appears brighter and larger than a regular full moon, hence the term, supermoon.

This October supermoon will drift over the horizon around sunset and the illusion of a larger and brighter orange color moon will appear because of how close it is to the earth.

When is the next full moon in November 2024?

The next full moon, the beaver moon, will occur on Friday, Nov. 15.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: When is the full moon in October? When to catch Ohio's hunter’s moon