Cincinnati's Supermoon Night: A Guide for Stargazers

Are you ready to witness the brightest supermoon of 2024? If you're in Cincinnati, you're in luck! This October's full moon is extra special. It's not just any full moon, but a supermoon, the third in a row. This means the moon will appear bigger and brighter than usual. Why is it so special? Well, the moon's orbit isn't a perfect circle. Sometimes it's closer to Earth, and sometimes it's further away. On Wednesday night, the moon will be about 222,000 miles away, which is pretty close compared to when it's over 253,000 miles away. NASA says that during a supermoon, the full moon can look up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the faintest full moon of the year. Isn't that cool?

Ever heard of a "hunter's moon"? That's what October's full moon is called. A long time ago, farmers used to call it that because after the September "harvest moon," it was time to start preparing for winter. Now, if you're into astronomy, there's a fun event happening! Cincinnati astronomer Dean Regas is hosting a free viewing party at Ault Park Pavilion. You can check out different telescopes, learn about the moon, and maybe even see a new comet if the weather is good. The party starts at 6 p.m. and goes until 8 p.m. Can't make it to the party? No worries! If you have a library card, you can borrow a telescope from the Cincinnati Public Library for free. Thanks to a partnership with Dean Regas and the Cincinnati Observatory, you can explore the moon from your own backyard. So, get ready to be a stargazer! This is your chance to see the brightest supermoon of the year.

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