Supermoon Surprise: Don’t Miss It This Week
Skywatchers, it’s your last chance of the year to catch a supermoon. This Thursday, the moon will come within about 225,000 miles of Earth, appearing bigger and brighter than usual….
Full blood strawberry moon back cloud and tree in the field and dark red sky, Elements of this image furnished by NASA
Skywatchers, it's your last chance of the year to catch a supermoon. This Thursday, the moon will come within about 225,000 miles of Earth, appearing bigger and brighter than usual.
It won’t reach its full lunar glow until Friday, but it will still dazzle.
This supermoon comes just after the peak of the Taurid meteor shower and right before the Leonid meteors kick into gear. It’s a celestial show all week long.
Last month’s supermoon was even closer, at just 222,055 miles from Earth, making it the year’s closest. This time, it’s not quite as close, but still spectacular.
So what’s a supermoon, anyway?
Well, it’s not an official scientific term, but it’s one we love. A supermoon happens when the moon’s full phase aligns with its closest point in orbit around Earth. This can happen three to four times a year, usually in a row. Thanks to the moon’s oval orbit, each supermoon gets slightly closer or farther.
Now, don’t expect the moon to look enormous—it’s not actually bigger. But it can appear up to 30% brighter than average. Even if the size difference is subtle, that extra shine is noticeable. It’s like the moon is putting on its best show, just for you.
This year, we had a "supermoon quartet," starting in August. October’s supermoon was the closest, while September's even featured a partial lunar eclipse, adding an extra bit of mystery to the skies.
The next round of supermoons won’t come until October 2025, so mark your calendar and grab your telescope if you have one. With lunar missions ramping up and the U.S. planning new lander missions, it’s an exciting time to be a moon fan.
Don’t miss it—look up, take it in, and enjoy the final supermoon of 2024.
