Hunter’s Moon to Illuminate Night Sky: Supermoon Viewing Opportunities in Lucknow

A celestial spectacle awaits sky enthusiasts as the moon appeared its brightest and largest on Thursday, known as the full supermoon or super hunter moon. The event, forecasted to be the closest full supermoon of 2024, promises an awe-inspiring view for stargazers.

The Indira Gandhi Planetarium in Lucknow, alongside the UP Amateur Astronomers Club, is facilitating this celestial observation by hosting a night sky observation program. Utilizing four telescopes, they are offering the public a chance to witness this astronomical phenomenon.

“The term ‘supermoon’ was first introduced by renowned astronomer Sir Richard Nolle in 1979,” explained Sumit Srivastava, a senior scientific officer at the Indira Gandhi Planetarium. Srivastava elaborated, “A supermoon can occur during both full moon and new moon phases when it is within 90% of its closest point to Earth, called perigee.”

During a supermoon, the moon appears approximately 14% larger and 30% brighter than its usual size. On this occasion, at 11:55 PM on Thursday, the moon was just 351,519 kilometers from Earth. Conversely, it reaches its apogee, or farthest point from Earth, on October 30, 2024, with a distance of around 406,161 kilometers.

The October full moon, traditionally named the Hunter's Moon, occurs with the onset of hunting season, offering favorable conditions for spotting prey in fields cleared by harvests. The viewing event provides an educational opportunity to learn about such cultural connections.

Professor Dr. BP Pandey is coordinating the planetarium’s program, inviting the general public to participate in this unique event. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact the planetarium to secure their spots for the sky observation experience.