October’s supermoon pairs with a comet for a special nighttime spectacle

Fourth and final supermoon of 2024 will rise on Nov. 15

Author of the article:

The Associated Press

Marcia Dunn

Published Oct 17, 2024  •  2 minute read

Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas is seen over the hills near the village of Aguas Blancas, Lavalleja Department, Uruguay, at dawn on Sept. 28, 2024. Photo by MARIANA SUAREZ /AFP via Getty Images

October’s supermoon is the closest moon to the earth this year and it’s teaming up with a comet for a rare stargazing two-for-one.

“Most astronomers hate the full moon because its bright light messes up observing other objects. So it’s a bit hard for us to wax poetic about it even if it’s the biggest supermoon of 2024,” said NASA’s Bill Cooke.

The third of four supermoons was 222,055 miles (357,364 kilometres) away Wednesday night, making it seem even bigger and brighter than the full moon in August and September. It reached its full lunar phase on Thursday.

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In a twist of cosmic fate, a comet has also come to the neighbourhood. Discovered last year, comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas is now prominent in the Northern Hemisphere after wowing stargazers in the Southern Hemisphere.

Better catch the comet as it may never return. But don’t fret if you missed Thursday’s supermoon. The fourth and final supermoon of the year will rise on Nov. 15.

What makes a moon so super?

More a popular term than a scientific one, a supermoon occurs when a full lunar phase syncs up with an especially close swing around Earth. This usually happens only three or four times a year and consecutively, given the moon’s constantly shifting, oval-shaped orbit.

A supermoon obviously isn’t bigger, but it can appear that way, although scientists say the difference can be barely perceptible.

How do supermoons compare?

There’s a quartet of supermoons this year. The one in August was 224,917 miles (361,970 kilometres) away. September’s was nearly 3,000 miles (4,484 kilometres) closer the night of Sept. 17 into the following morning. A partial lunar eclipse also unfolded that night, visible in much of the Americas, Africa and Europe as Earth’s shadow fell on the moon, resembling a small bite.

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October’s supermoon is the year’s closest at 222,055 miles (357,364 kilometers) from Earth, followed by the November supermoon at a distance of 224,853 miles (361,867 kilometres).

What’s in it for me?

Scientists point out that only the keenest observers can discern the subtle differences. It’s easier to detect the change in brightness. A supermoon can be 30% brighter than average.

With the U.S. and other countries ramping up lunar exploration with landers and eventually astronauts, the moon beckons brighter than ever.

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