The October Full Moon, commonly referred to as the Harvest Moon or Hunter's Moon, is a significant astronomical event that rises today. This year marks the first supermoon of the season, offering a spectacular view for skywatchers and astronomy enthusiasts alike. For those who wish to experience this lunar phenomenon, a free livestream is available, courtesy of astronomer Gianluca Masi and his Virtual Telescope Project based in Manciano, Italy.
The livestream will commence at 11 p.m. EDT (03:00 GMT on October 7). You can catch the live broadcast on Space.com through the embedded video or directly via the Virtual Telescope Project's WebTV or YouTube channel, depending on weather conditions. "At The Virtual Telescope Project, we love sharing live views of our satellite," Masi expressed in an email to Space.com. "The upcoming supermoon is a wonderful opportunity to invite our community to look up—the first step to discovering the wonderful universe where we live."
The significance of the October Full Moon lies in its timing. It will reach full illumination at 11:48 p.m. EDT on October 6 (03:48 GMT on October 7). During this time, the moon will be directly opposite the sun in Earth's sky, resulting in a fully illuminated moon. Known as the Harvest Moon, this particular full moon derives its name from the period when farmers traditionally harvested crops under the bright glow of moonlight, especially following the autumn equinox.
While the moment of full illumination is consistent worldwide, the moonrise and set times vary by location. For instance, in New York City, the Harvest Moon will rise at approximately 6:08 p.m. EDT and set the following morning around 7:25 a.m. In Los Angeles, moonrise occurs later, at about 6:29 p.m. PDT (which is 9:29 p.m. EDT). Meanwhile, in London, the full moon will rise at 6:20 p.m. BST (17:20 GMT). Be sure to check local times to fully enjoy this incredible lunar display.
