Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news about fascinating discoveries, scientific developments and more.

CNN
—

Keep your eyes trained along the horizon at dusk to witness a stunning moon display tonight. The year’s closest supermoon will soon loom large and bright in the autumn sky.

October’s hunter moon will reach its zenith around 7:26 a.m. ET on Thursday, but the silvery orb will appear around Wednesday evening through Friday morning, according to NASA.

This full moon is believed to be the third of four consecutive supermoons expected this year, NASA says.

This celestial phenomenon occurs a few times during each lunar cycle because the moon’s orbit is elliptical, meaning there are intervals when Earth’s only permanent natural satellite is closer or farther from the planet.

Along the lunar orbit path, the point of closest proximity is known as perigee, which is when the moon is an average of 226,000 miles (363,300 kilometers) from Earth. When a full moon phase coincides with perigee, a supermoon event occurs.

Supermoon is a term that describes the moon when it is closer to Earth than normal.

Normally the moon orbits at an average distance of about 238,855 miles (384,400 kilometers) from its host planet, but during this month’s supermoon it will be just 222,095 miles (357,428 kilometers) from Earth, making it the closest full moon of 2024 is.

According to EarthSky, during a supermoon the orb can appear as much as 8% larger and 16% brighter than an average-sized full moon.

October’s moon isn’t actually bigger or brighter than any other moon, but it may seem that way because it appears near the horizon shortly after sunset, says Dr. Robin L. Shelton, a professor of physics at the University of Georgia.

Many people associate the Hunter’s Moon with an orange color when it rises, but the same can be said of all full moons. The color, Shelton explained, is the result of optical effects as light passes through Earth’s atmosphere.

The Hunter’s Moon is the first full moon after the autumnal equinox, which occurred on September 22 this year. The lunar event marks the changing of the seasons.

The name comes from the indigenous people, who took advantage of the bright appearance of the moon as hunters prepared for long winters. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, hunting was also easier this time of year because the fields had already been cleared.

Other names for the October full moon among various indigenous peoples include the first frost moon of the Potawatomi people, the corn harvesting time of the Apache tribe, or the falling leaves moon of the Anishinaabe people .

Traditions around this time include the Feast of the Hunter’s Moon, an annual recreation of the mid-18th century autumn gatherings of French and Indians at Fort Ouiatenon, 4 miles southwest of West Lafayette, Indiana.

According to EarthSky, the hunter’s moon is expected to be joined by Jupiter, a red giant star called Aldebaran, and the star cluster Pleiades. Depending on your location, these cosmic wonders may be visible until sunrise Friday and Saturday evenings.

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), which just made its closest pass by Earth on Saturday, is visible in the west just after sunset. Through October 24, look for the celestial wonder and its long tail shooting across the sky. Although it may be visible to the naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope will certainly help. Don’t miss your chance to spot the comet, which won’t orbit again for another 80,000 years.

Keep an eye out for bright Jupiter, which will appear low in the eastern sky near the moon around 10 p.m. on October 20, and Mars will look like a red dot near the moon high above in the early morning hours of October 23 and 24 head. according to NASA.

The Beaver Moon on November 15 is the fourth and final supermoon of the year. And the cold moon on December 15 will be the last full moon of 2024.

And here are peak dates for the remaining fall and winter meteor showers, according to the American Meteor Society.

• Orionids: October 21-22

• Southern Taurids: November 5-6

• Northern Taurids: November 11-12

• Leonids: November 17-18

• Geminids: December 13-14

• Ursids: December 21-22