Hunter’s Moon: When And Where To Watch The Biggest Supermoon Of The Year (Image/science.nasa.gov)

Pay attention, skywatchers, as the third and biggest supermoon of 2024 is about to rise on October 17 (Thursday). Called the Hunter’s Moon, the full moon will appear for about three days. It will reach its peak at 7:26 am EDT (4:56 pm IST) on Thursday.

Traditionally the first full moon after the Harvest Moon, the Hunter’s Moon was named by early English and American farmers for the time fields were clear of crops and hunting became easier.

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According to NASA, the moon will appear full from Tuesday evening through Friday morning.

The Hunter’s Moon has many cultural significances. For Hindus, it is celebrated as Sharad Purnima, a harvest festival that marks the end of monsoon and is dedicated to the moon god.

In Buddhism, it symbolises the end of the three-month Vassa, or Buddhist Lent, observed during the rainy season.

Meanwhile, in Myanmar, it overlaps with the Thadingyut Festival of Lights, a celebration to welcome the Buddha’s return from heaven.

When And Where To Watch

After sunset is the ideal time to watch the supermoon when it hovers low above the horizon. While the timing will differ, the supermoon will be visible across the world.

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The supermoon will reach its peak at 4:56 pm IST on October 17 and will be visible in the evenings from October 15 to 18 in India. For those in the western United States, the full moon will appear late on Wednesday night, October 16.