The biggest supermoon of the year turns night into day around the world as a comet shines

The biggest, brightest and best supermoon of the year rose around the world last night after its intense light turned night into day.

October's full moon, known as the “Hunter's Moon” (but also the “Falling Leaves Moon” and “Blood Moon”), became full overnight from October 17th to 19th and rose on the eastern horizon at dusk. 17 the visual highlight.

Sky watchers traveled around the globe at dusk to see the full moon appear in the east and spot a rare comet – complete with a long tail – in the west.

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (also known as C/2023 A3 and Comet A3) didn't get as bright in the night sky as Venus, but it still earned the nickname “Comet of the Century.”

The long-tailed comet has captured the imagination because of its unfathomable orbit, which takes it into the inner solar system only every 80,000 years. It has never been seen by modern humans.

Although the comet was visible in the night sky with binoculars, the brightness of the supermoon made it the dominant night sky. It was about 15% brighter and seemingly 30% larger than typical full moons, entirely because it was the closest full moon of the year.

Since the Moon's orbit around the Earth is a slight ellipse, there is a near point (perigee) and a far point (climax) every month. However, this only happens when the full moon coincides with perigee that it is celebrated.

Supermoon is an astrological term for a perigee Full moon that is slightly larger and brighter than the average full moon. Astronomers define a perigee A full moon occurs within 90% of its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit.

The “Hunter's Moon” was the closest and most conspicuous of the four “supermoon” full moons in 2024, 222,055 miles (357,363 kilometers) from Earth.

No matter the distance from Earth, a full moon always looks most beautiful when it appears on the eastern horizon just after the sun has set in the west, bathed in beautiful, muted orange light.

The next full moon, the November “Beaver Moon,” will rise on Friday, November 15th. However, the best time to see it rise in North America and Europe is during moonrise on Saturday, November 16th.

In the meantime, the comet will gradually return to the Oort Cloud – a sphere around our solar system that is home to millions of comets – and will probably never return.

I wish you clear skies and big eyes.