The month of October gives us a spectacular full moon in 2024. The one known as Hunter’s Moon will also be a supermoonwhich means that we can see it somewhat larger than normal.
We explain to you what day is the full moon in October 2024 and everything you need to know to enjoy its splendor. Earth’s shadow will come so close to it that there will be what astronomers call a «near eclipse.» We will not see how it is hidden but we will be able to daydream about the magic of the possibilities that the universe contains and that we are rarely aware of.
When is the full moon in October 2024
The full moon of October 2024 will take place on Thursday, October 17 around the 1:26 p.m. (Spanish peninsular time). This means that the moment of greatest fullness will occur when there is still sun, although at night the visual effect will also be of maximum fullness.
Now, with this full Moon in October we will be lucky enough to enjoy it well during three nights in a row. So much the night before, Wednesday the 16th (when it will be at 99% lighting), such as that of the same 17 (close to 100% illumination) and that of Friday the 18th (in which it will be at 98%), we will be able to enjoy a very bright Moon, as long as the weather conditions allow it.
It will coincide in time with the passage of comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas, dubbed the «comet» of the century», which is already leaving striking images around the world.
The third Supermoon of 2024
The full moon will occur near perigeethe point in the lunar orbit closest to Earth, meaning that it will be a supermoon and that we will see it somewhat larger than normal.
It is the third full supermoon in a row that we will see this year, after the super blue moon of last August 19 and that of September 18. The next supermoon, the last of the year, will be on November 15.
The perigee will be about the 1:46 a.m. on Thursday, October 17moment in which we can enjoy one of the most spectacular full moons of 2024.
A «near lunar eclipse» in October
According to the Time and Date astronomy portalthe Sun, Earth and Moon will be so well aligned on October 17 that Earth’s shadow will almost touch the Moon. But only almost. The Moon will not become dark, so there will be no eclipse.
The alignment of the Sun, Earth and Moon It occurs with each full Moon, with the Earth located in the center, and the Sun and the Moon each at one end. However, just two or three times a year is a «perfect» enough alignment so that the Earth, with its shadow, obscures the Moon and a total, partial or penumbral lunar eclipse occurs.
What will happen with this full hunter moon the thing is «in the shadow of the Earth the Moon will barely escape»say Time and Date, who have prepared a visualization in which you can see how close it will get. As there are different ways to calculate eclipses, they warn, some sources say that a penumbral lunar eclipse will occur this day, but the truth is that said «eclipse» will not be able to be seen from anywhere on the planet.
The «Hunter’s Moon» and other names for the October full moon
The full moons of each month receive names that have to do with what happens in nature at the time in which they occur.
In the northern hemisphere, This full Moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon. The origin of this name is that, After the harvest, the fields were clear and free so that hunters could chase their prey at night and store food for the winter.
As explained in Almanac.com, the names of Harvest Moon and Hunter’s Moon are not linked to a specific month, but depend on when the autumn equinox is.
- The harvest moon It is the full moon that occurs closest to the equinox. This year, as the equinox occurred on September 22, it was the full moon on September 17, but at other times it may be the October moon.
- The Hunter’s Moon It is the first full moon that comes just after the Harvest Moon and that is why this year it is the October full moon that receives this name, although in other cases it can be the November one.
On the other hand, the full Moon in October is also called blood moon (due to its relationship with the hunting season) or seed moonamong others.
In it southern hemispherethe October full moon coincides with spring and has other names such as Pink Moon, Egg Moon or Fish Moon.
How the full moon influences Aries
The October full moon, which on this occasion will be in Aries, is perceived in various cultures as a invitation to celebrate and recognize abundance. It is also the ideal time for introspection and to connect with our deepest essence.
“The energy of this full Moon is full of activity, intensity and strength”explains Marga Roldán, an agricultural engineer trained in Evolutionary Astrology.
On the nights of the full moon and the days close to it it may be harder to sleep because the energy is more intense. On the full moon of October,With the strong energy of Aries, perhaps the “strange” sleep will become more active than at other times«, warns the specialist. In these situations, it is advisable do not get carried away by restlessness and try to relax to fall asleep. And, in any case, if you can’t sleep, try to make up for the lost rest on another day of the week.
On the other hand, the full Moon in October gives us energy to start projects, relationships or other types of activities. “Take the strength of the fire of Aries and enjoy that part of you that is activated with this energy«, advises Roldán, who also warns that we must control our strength so as not to take other people ahead of us.