Hunter Moon 2024: How Can Skywatchers Observe This Event?

The Hunter Moon, considered the biggest, closest moon placement of this year, makes for the perfect skywatching spectacle that will captivate stargazers across the globe.

To commemorate this skywatching show, the Indira Gandhi Planetarium in Lucknow will organise a free public observation on October 17. The Hunter's moon coincides with Sharad Purnima.  

Sumit Kumar Shrivastava, Scientific Officer and Media Incharge of the Council of Science & Technology, Uttar Pradesh, said, “This Supermoon is not just any full moon — it’s the closest one of 2024. People will see the Moon at its largest and brightest, and we’re thrilled to offer the public a chance to observe it up close," citing media reports.

The Indira Gandhi Planetarium has collaborated with the Uttar Pradesh Amateur Astronomers Club to install four telescopes at the site for detailed views of the Supermoon and visible planets.

How can one observe the Hunter Moon?

To observe the Supermoon, look for a clear spot with minimal light pollution, such as an open field or rooftop.

The best time to view it will be around 11:55 PM on October 17, when the Moon will be closest to Earth. While the Supermoon will be visible to the naked eye, using binoculars or a telescope will enhance the experience, revealing surface details like craters and lunar seas.

Local weather conditions will play a pertinent role in enhancing the view.

A Supermoon occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth, or perigee. On October 17, 2024, at 11:55 PM, the Moon will be just 351,519 kilometers away from Earth, appearing about 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than usual.

Further, Shrivastava mentioned that Supermoons have long fascinated astronomers, calling them “a beautiful reminder of the dynamic relationship between the Earth and Moon.”