Full hunter's supermoon: best places and times to watch from the US

Mid-October is a special time for stargazers, as the year’s biggest and brightest supermoon is expected to grace the night sky.

Last September, the month bid goodbye with the full Harvest Moon, and this month, the sky will be illuminated by the so-called Full Hunter’s Moon on the night of Thursday the 17th.

This is the third of four consecutive supermoons, but it’s expected to dazzle the most as it will be the closest full moon to the Earth.

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What time is the Hunter’s Full Moon?

The Hunter’s Moon will be visible in its fullness on the night of Thursday, Oct. 17. Moonrise will take place at 6:13 p.m. ET, while moonset will occur at 12:23 a.m.

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What does the Hunter’s Full Moon mean?

In ancient times, tribes marked the seasons by the full moons. The moon preceding the Hunter’s Moon is the Harvest Moon, which indicates it’s the perfect time to harvest crops.

The arrival of the Hunter’s Moon indicates the hunting season had begun, and that it was time to store provisions and be prepared for the winter.

Full hunter’s supermoon: best places and times to watch from the US

The best place to observe any celestial phenomenon is somewhere without light pollution or obstacles that could block your view of the satellite. Of course, the weather would also have to cooperate, as clear skies can help you enjoy a better view of the moon.

If you want to watch the moon at its brightest, get up early and look to the west on the morning of Oct. 17 before sunrise.

For people on the West Coast, moonrise will be at 6:25 p.m. PDT while moonset will occur at 12:27 a.m. on Thursday morning. Early birds on this part of the United States will be able to view the moon at its fullest point at 4:26 a.m. local time.