A hunter’s moon will grace the North Texas sky this Thursday. It will be the third supermoon of 2024 – and probably the brightest of the year.

According to NASA, the peak viewing time is on October 17 at 6:26 a.m. at moonrise. The supermoon could appear up to 30% brighter and 14% larger than the faintest moon of the year.

Clear skies are expected in the D-FW area on Thursday, so visibility will likely be unobstructed.

What is a supermoon?

‘Supermoon’ is not a scientific term. It was coined in 1979 by astrologer Richard Nolle to describe a new or full moon that has traveled within 90% of its perigee, or closest point to Earth. The moon orbits our planet in an elliptical orbit and is therefore sometimes closer or further away.

According to NASA, supermoons occur about three to four times a year and always appear consecutively. The first supermoon of 2024 was the super blue moon on August 19 and was followed by the harvest moon on September 17, which coincided with a partial lunar eclipse. The fourth and final supermoon of the year will be the full beaver moon on November 15, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Photos: Partial lunar eclipse and supermoon brighten night sky over Dallas-Fort Worth

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Why is it called a hunter’s moon?

The Hunter’s Moon got its name because it was traditionally considered a signal to start hunting for the coming winter, the Almanac says. It is the first full moon after the autumnal equinox, which occurred on September 22 this year.

Be careful while driving

Although the large and luminous supermoon will be a sight to behold, according to a recent study in the journal Transport research Part D: Transport and environment found a nearly 46% increase in wildlife-vehicle collisions on full moon nights in Texas. In some areas, including the High Plains, South Texas, Central Texas and the Upper East regions, collision rates were particularly high, from nearly 58% to 125%.

The study authors, based at Texas A&M University, say this problem is more common in rural areas than in urban areas, likely due to more wildlife and less light pollution.

Miriam Fauzia is a science journalist at The Dallas Morning News. Her fellowship is supported by the University of Texas at Dallas. Het Nieuws makes all editorial decisions.