Supermoon Peaks as Meteor Shower Begins

The October full moon will reach its peak at 3.47am on Tuesday, appearing larger and brighter than usual as it coincides with the moon’s closest point to Earth.

A supermoon occurs when a full moon aligns with its perigee, the point in its orbit nearest to Earth. During this alignment, the moon can appear up to 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than average.

October’s Harvest Moon, the first full moon following the autumn equinox, historically provided farmers with extra light to continue harvesting after sunset.

In Dublin, the moon will rise at about 5.38pm this evening. The GFS cloud cover forecast indicates a mix of clear spells and scattered cloud across the country, giving most areas a good chance to view the supermoon.

Astronomy enthusiasts will also have an opportunity to observe the Draconid meteor shower, which peaks around Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

The Draconids are slower-moving than the Orionids, which appear later in the month, and are best viewed in the early evening rather than before dawn.

Although typically modest in activity, the Draconids occasionally produce brief outbursts of meteors, offering an additional highlight for skywatchers this week.