x
Breaking News
More () »

How to see the year's biggest and brightest supermoon this weekend

NASA says this supermoon, also known as the Hunter's Moon, is the third and brightest of four consecutive supermoons.

TEMPLE, Texas — If you look up at the night sky this weekend, you might see an especially bright sight.

According to NASA, the full moon is forecasted to take place beginning on Thursday, Oct. 17, but it is not just an ordinary full moon, it will be the third of four consecutive supermoons, also called the Hunter's Moon.

A supermoon takes place when the moon's orbit is at its closest point to Earth, or "perigee", at the same time the moon is full, NASA explains. This closer distance makes the moon appear a little bit bigger and brighter than usual.

The administration also said this supermoon is expected to be the brightest of the four consecutive supermoons "by a tiny margin".

According to NASA, the full moon will be visible beginning on Thursday, Oct. 17 and will appear for about three days.

NASA states the Hunter's Moon, which always follows the Harvest Moon, was first formally referred to by that term in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1710, getting its name from the time when game animals are fattening up for the winter and hunters can better see them after leaves have fallen and fields have been harvested.

The Old Farmer's Almanac says other Native American names for the moon include the Travel Moon, the Dying Grass Moon, Falling Leaves Moon or the Sanguine or Blood Moon.

More information on the supermoon, and other celestial events to see this month, can be found on NASA's website at this link.

More from 6 News:

Before You Leave, Check This Out