The Hunter’s Moon is set to rise tonight – keep your eyes peeled for the third and brightest of the four consecutive Supermoons this year!

The Hunter’s Moon will begin rising around 6.45pm on 17th October and should be at an easily appreciable height at around 8pm onwards in Singapore.

Image: Pixabay

About Full moons, Supermoons, and Blue Moons

1. What is a Supermoon?

A Supermoon is a Full Moon that appears larger and brighter than usual. This phenomenon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth, making the moon appear nearly 6-7% larger than usual.

2. What is a Blue Moon?

There are two different definitions for a Blue Moon:

• Seasonal Blue Moon: There are just three Full Moons in an astronomical season. However, in some years there are four Full Moons in a season. As such in these rare occurrences, the third Full Moon is termed as a Blue Moon.
• Monthly Blue moon: In a calendar month when there are two Full Moons, the second one is termed as the Blue Moon.

About the upcoming Harvest Moon

1. What is the Hunter’s Moon and how did it get its name?

The upcoming Supermoon is referred to as the Hunter’s Moon. It will be the third and brightest of the four consecutive Supermoons this year.

The Hunter’s Moon is named as such because it often appears around the time hunters would have been most active, hunting animals to prepare for winter.

2. When will the Hunter’s Moon be visible?

The Hunter’s Moon will begin rising around 6.45pm on 17th October and should be at an easily appreciable height at around 8pm onwards in Singapore.

3. What are some myths and folklore associated with the Hunter’s Moon?

The Hunter’s Moon has great significance across different cultures around the world:

• In the past, the Hunter’s Moon was of great importance as it was a special occasion for feasting and preparing for long winters, both in northern Europe and among Native American groups.
• The Hunter’s Moon was equally important in Europe, where it was considered the best time to hunt after the harvest and before winter. Interestingly, Europeans didn’t use the specific term ‘Hunter’s Moon’ until they met Native Americans and started settling in North America.

This date also coincides with the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival where families and friends gather to enjoy mooncakes and observe the moon together.

4. Where is the best place to view the Hunter’s Moon?

Like most full moons, the Hunter’s Moon should be easily visible from all across Singapore as long as sky is clear. For an unobstructed and potentially elevated view of the Hunter’s Moon with panoramic views of the city skyline, visit open public areas like the Marina Barrage, East Coast Park, and the Southern Ridges.

5. Can the Supermoon be viewed with the naked eye?

Yes! It will be hard to miss the bright Supermoon in the night sky unless it’s a particularly cloudy day. However, it’s worth noting that the Moon’s appearance can vary depending on atmospheric conditions and your specific location.

6. When is the next Supermoon?

There will be one other Supermoon taking place this year, the Beaver Moon on 15 November. It will also be visible to the naked eye, provided the skies are clear and there is an unobstructed view.

7. Will the Science Centre Observatory (SCOB) hold a viewing session for the Supermoons?

SCOB will not be holding a viewing session for the Supermoons. However, budding astronomy enthusiast can participate in SCOB’s stargazing programmes to learn more about the night sky.

The Stargazing and Digital Planetarium Live Show begins with a planetarium show at the Omni-Theatre followed by a stargazing session.
At the Science Centre, you can also immerse yourself in Space Explorers: THE INFINITE, the world’s largest Extended Reality Space Exploration Experience. Through the transformative lens of immersive VR, guests will be transported 400 kilometers above Earth into the International Space Station (ISS).

Contributed by Science Centre Observatory.

Halloween 2024

Halloween is on 31 October and is creeping up fast. We have compiled a list of Halloween Parties in Singapore just for you!

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