The supermoon on Thursday night promises to be a dazzling event. It's not just any full moon, but the brightest forecast for the year, outshining the one in August.
The lunar display will appear up to 14 per cent brighter and 30 per cent larger than other full moons this year.
Here's what you need to know about the celestial event and whether you'll be able to see it for yourself.
What is a supermoon and why is it called the hunter's moon?
The moon doesn't orbit Earth in a perfect circle but follows an egg-shaped path.
While full moons can occur anywhere along this orbit, the moon appears slightly larger and brighter when it reaches its closest point to Earth — called perigee — and that's when it's called a supermoon.
On the other hand, when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth, called apogee, it appears smaller and dimmer.
The full moon in October is also known as the hunter's moon.
This name comes from the time of year in the Northern Hemisphere as winter approaches, marking the last chance for the hunters to go out and hunt in preparation for the colder months.
The full moon in October is also known as the hunter's moon. Source: Getty / James D. Morgan
Why is this one the brightest?
According to NASA, this full moon is the third of four consecutive supermoons expected this year and is forecast to be the largest and brightest of the bunch.
Professor Jonti Horner, an astrobiologist and astronomer from the University of Southern Queensland, told The Guardian that this brightness occurs because the Earth moves slightly closer to the sun in October than in September.
While the Earth will be even closer to the sun for the next supermoon in November, the distance between the Earth and the moon will not be as close, which will ultimately impact its brightness.
When is the best time to see the supermoon?
According to NASA, the supermoon will technically occur at 10:26pm AEDT on Thursday night, but the moon will actually appear at its biggest around dusk.
The supermoon will be at its peak visibility across Australian cities on Thursday night. Source: SBS News
What is the best way to spot the supermoon?
It can be easily observed across all of Australia with the naked eye by simply looking up, as long as the skies are clear.
This means you won't need a telescope unless you want to enhance the viewing experience.
When are the next supermoons?
According to NASA, there are four supermoons in 2024, including two that have already occurred in August and September, and tonight's supermoon in October and one more to follow in November.
The final one, known as the beaver moon, will occur on 15 November, and we won't see another supermoon until October 2025.
