When Will The Brightest Supermoon Of 2024 Rise In Riverside County?

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When Will The Brightest Supermoon Of 2024 Rise In Riverside County? The Hunter's Moon will loom in the sky early Wednesday evening in its waxing gibbous form. What to know in Riverside County.

TEMECULA, CA — The brightest supermoon of the year will cross the sky over Riverside County Wednesday evening, though it won't technically be full just yet.

The Hunter's Moon, which always follows the Harvest Moon after the autumnal equinox, will appear on the horizon just before 6 p.m. in its waxing gibbous form — revealing 99.3%.

The moon will reach its apex at approximately 4:27 a.m. in Temecula on Thursday, Oct. 17, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. On Thursday evening, the full moon will rise again at 6:22 p.m.

"It will be below the horizon, so wait until sunset to watch it rise and take its place in the sky," according to the Almanac.

The Hunter's Moon is one of four supermoons that appear in California. At its nearest point, it will be 222,055 miles from Earth, making it the closest orbiting moon of the year.

"This year, it's also the biggest and brightest Supermoon—so that should be quite a sight! See the meaning of the Hunter's Moon and special viewing tips," according to the Almanac.

This moon has been called the full Hunter's Moon because it was once considered to be a sign for hunters to begin their work in preparation for the cold winter season. Since it follows the Harvest Moon, hunters could also more easily find animals that emerge at night. The almanac says foxes and wolves can also be spotted to come out around the same time to look for prey.

Other names for the Hunter's Moon are the Blood Moon or Sanguine.

According to the Almanac, both the Harvest and Hunter's moons are unique for their connection to the autumnal equinox, an astronomical event. Most other full moons are related to folklore or restricted to a single month.

Some years, the Hunter's moon fluctuates between November and October, depending on when the Harvest moon arrives.