new york (WPIX) – Get ready to look up at the biggest and brightest supermoon of the year.
The third of this year's four supermoons, October's full moon known as the Hunter's Moon will light up the sky on Thursday. It will orbit at a distance of about 322,056 miles from Earth, making it the closest supermoon of the year.
That's not all. Combined with a comet, it provides a rare 2:1 stargazing experience.
After surprising stargazers in the Southern Hemisphere, comet Tuchinshan-Atlas, discovered last year, is now conspicuous in the Northern Hemisphere as well. If clear skies permit, it should be visible until the end of October, but assuming it survives its journey, it won't return for another 80,000 years.
A supermoon, which is more of a common term than a scientific term, occurs when a full lunar phase is synchronized with a particularly close wobbling around the Earth. Given the moon's constantly moving elliptical orbit, this typically only occurs three or four times a year in a row.
Supermoons aren't actually large, but they can sometimes look like they are, but the difference is almost imperceptible, scientists say.
The Hunter's Moon will reach its peak intensity around 7:26 a.m. Thursday, according to the Farmer's Almanac. However, you can also enjoy the beautiful view rising into the sky the night before.
As its name suggests, the Hunter's Moon was originally thought to be a signal for hunters to begin preparing for winter.
It follows the Harvest Moon in September, providing extra light for farming, clearing fields and making it easier for hunters to spot animals.
The last supermoon of the year is scheduled for Nov. 15 at 5:29 p.m.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
