By — Marcia Dunn, Associated Press Marcia Dunn, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/the-last-supermoon-of-the-year-is-coming-heres-when-to-see-it Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The last supermoon of the year is coming. Here’s when to see it Science Nov 11, 2024 6:05 PM EDT CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Better catch this week’s supermoon. It will be a while until the next one. This will be the year’s fourth and final supermoon, looking bigger and brighter than usual as it comes within about 225,000 miles (361,867 kilometers) of Earth on Thursday. It won’t reach its full lunar phase until Friday. READ MORE: Catch the supermoon lunar eclipse? Here’s what you saw The supermoon rises after the peak of the Taurid meteor shower and before the Leonids are most active. Last month’s supermoon was 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) closer, making it the year’s closest. The series started in August. In 2025, expect three supermoons beginning in October. What makes a moon so super? More a popular term than a scientific one, a supermoon occurs when a full lunar phase syncs up with an especially close swing around Earth. This usually happens only three or four times a year and consecutively, given the moon’s constantly shifting, oval-shaped orbit. A supermoon obviously isn’t bigger, but it can appear that way, although scientists say the difference can be barely perceptible. A view of the craters on the surface of the Supermoon, known as the Hunter’s moon, as it rises over Mexico City on Oct. 17, 2024. Photo by Henry Romero/ Reuters How do supermoons compare? This year features a quartet of supermoons. The one in August was 224,917 miles (361,970 kilometers) away. September’s was 222,131 miles (357,486 kilometers) away. A partial lunar eclipse also unfolded that night, visible in much of the Americas, Africa and Europe as Earth’s shadow fell on the moon, resembling a small bite. October’s supermoon was the year’s closest at 222,055 miles (357,364 kilometers) from Earth. This month’s supermoon will make its closest approach on Thursday with the full lunar phase the next day. What’s in it for me? Scientists point out that only the keenest observers can discern the subtle differences. It’s easier to detect the change in brightness — a supermoon can be 30 percent brighter than average. With the U.S. and other countries ramping up lunar exploration with landers and eventually astronauts, the moon beckons brighter than ever. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Marcia Dunn, Associated Press Marcia Dunn, Associated Press
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Better catch this week’s supermoon. It will be a while until the next one. This will be the year’s fourth and final supermoon, looking bigger and brighter than usual as it comes within about 225,000 miles (361,867 kilometers) of Earth on Thursday. It won’t reach its full lunar phase until Friday. READ MORE: Catch the supermoon lunar eclipse? Here’s what you saw The supermoon rises after the peak of the Taurid meteor shower and before the Leonids are most active. Last month’s supermoon was 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) closer, making it the year’s closest. The series started in August. In 2025, expect three supermoons beginning in October. What makes a moon so super? More a popular term than a scientific one, a supermoon occurs when a full lunar phase syncs up with an especially close swing around Earth. This usually happens only three or four times a year and consecutively, given the moon’s constantly shifting, oval-shaped orbit. A supermoon obviously isn’t bigger, but it can appear that way, although scientists say the difference can be barely perceptible. A view of the craters on the surface of the Supermoon, known as the Hunter’s moon, as it rises over Mexico City on Oct. 17, 2024. Photo by Henry Romero/ Reuters How do supermoons compare? This year features a quartet of supermoons. The one in August was 224,917 miles (361,970 kilometers) away. September’s was 222,131 miles (357,486 kilometers) away. A partial lunar eclipse also unfolded that night, visible in much of the Americas, Africa and Europe as Earth’s shadow fell on the moon, resembling a small bite. October’s supermoon was the year’s closest at 222,055 miles (357,364 kilometers) from Earth. This month’s supermoon will make its closest approach on Thursday with the full lunar phase the next day. What’s in it for me? Scientists point out that only the keenest observers can discern the subtle differences. It’s easier to detect the change in brightness — a supermoon can be 30 percent brighter than average. With the U.S. and other countries ramping up lunar exploration with landers and eventually astronauts, the moon beckons brighter than ever. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now