This week, Dutch skies will be graced with the hunter’s moon, which also happens to be a supermoon. What makes this event extra special is that it is expected to be the biggest and brightest moon of 2024.
Hunter’s moon 2024 appears as supermoon
This month has already seen meteor showers and a once-in-a-century comet, and now the Netherlands will experience its third supermoon of the year. With the spooky season in full swing and Halloween coming up, the full moon occurring later this week will only add to the atmosphere.
The astronomical event is called a hunter’s moon as it is the first full moon after the harvest moon and was what ancestors considered the best time to hunt, as animals could be seen more easily. This year, it will also be a supermoon, where the moon appears bigger and brighter as it gets closer to the Earth.
At a distance of 357.364 kilometres away instead of the usual 384.000 kilometres, the supermoon will be between seven and 14 percent brighter than a normal full moon. This will be the third supermoon of the year, but it will be the brightest as this full moon will be the closest to the Earth.
How to see the October supermoon in the Netherlands
The upcoming supermoon will be visible in the Netherlands from October 16 to 18 and will be at its fullest on October 17 at 1.26pm. Astronomers suggest that the supermoon will be at its most dazzling right after sunset and advise looking just above the horizon for the best view.
According to Weeronline, there is a good chance the weather will be good enough to spot the super hunter’s moon. There will be some clouds and rain, but there will be moments when the sky clears and the moonlight shines through.