UAE residents to see the biggest super moon

Next week, residents of the United Arab Emirates will see a grand astronomical phenomenon – on 17 October, the largest and brightest super moon of 2024 will rise above the night sky.

The October super moon was called the Hunter’s Super Moon. This was due to the fact that hunters were most active during the autumn season. The Moon will be at its closest distance from Earth in 2024, at the perigee of its orbit.

A super moon is commonly referred to as a major full moon, a phenomenon in which the full phase is as close as possible to the moment when the Moon passes the closest point of its orbit to Earth (perigee).

At this time, it appears visually larger (by about 13.5 per cent) than during full moons that coincide with the passing of the apogee point furthest from the Earth.

The Dubai Astronomy Group will be holding a special event at the University of Dubai to talk about the beautiful phenomenon, as well as giving participants the opportunity to observe the Super Moon through a telescope.

For lovers of romance and astronomy, the UAE has plenty of places to observe the moon with the naked eye for free.

These include the city’s Al Barsha Pond Park, which is open until 11.30pm, Al Qudra Lakes (access is open 24 hours a day), the Hajar Mountains in Hatta, Jebel Ali Beach and Kite Beach, the Dubai Creek neighbourhood viewing platform (70 metres above the water) and the far from light pollution Al Quaa Milky Way Spot (23.604633,54.750256. from Google Maps) in Abu Dhabi.

Source: Time Out Dubai