Rare super Hunter's Moon to brighten Swiss skies this week
By Jan de Boer
Following meteor showers and a dazzling comet, Switzerland will be treated to another celestial treat this week with the arrival of the Hunter’s Moon. The event coincides with when the moon is closest to Earth, meaning it will appear as a magnificent supermoon.
Hunter's Moon to grace Swiss skies this October
Between October 16 and 18 2024, the so-called Hunter’s Moon will be visible in the skies above Switzerland. First described by astronomers in 1710, the supermoon gets its name from the idea that, as the leaves begin to fall it is easier for hunters to see and catch deer, rabbits and other Wildsaison delicacies.
Others, such as the Algonquin tribe in the northwest United States, call it the Dying Grass or Blood Moon - a reference to either the changing colour of the leaves in autumn or the beginning of hunting season.
What will make the Hunter's Moon in 2024 so spectacular?
This year, two phenomena will make the Hunter’s Moon of 2024 all the more magnificent. First, its peak on October 17 comes just a day before the moon reaches perigee. This is when the moon is closest to the Earth, around 356.410 kilometres away from the planet.
If perigee and the full moon coincide as they will this week, the moon appears much larger in the night sky, earning it the title of supermoon. It promises to be 7 percent brighter than a regular full moon.
Then, since July 2024 the moon has been in what is called a lunar standstill. Typically, the moon follows a similar path to the sun, rising in the east and setting in the west roughly in line with the star. A lunar standstill occurs when the moon appears higher or lower in the sky than the sun’s path.
Therefore, the moon rises at a point in the sky that is never tracked by the sun, making it appear to move slower across the night sky. The so-called major lunar standstill that is currently occurring only happens once every 18,6 years.
How to watch the October supermoon in Switzerland
The super Hunter’s moon is expected to be at its fullest at 1.26pm Swiss time on October 17, meaning it should be at its most spectacular on the nights of October 16 through to October 18. Astronomers suggest that the supermoon will be at its most dazzling right after sunset and advise looking just above the horizon for the best view.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed for good weather in Switzerland, and we hope you enjoy our closest astral neighbour in all its vibrant glory!
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Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016.
While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more