November's Closest Supermoon: A Spectacular Celestial Event You Won't Want to Miss

Wednesday night will showcase the moon appearing noticeably larger and more luminous, marking this year's closest supermoon event.

The moon's orbit around Earth follows an elliptical path rather than a perfect circle, resulting in varying distances throughout its cycle. NASA defines a supermoon as occurring when a full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth during its orbit. This proximity causes the lunar body to appear up to 14% larger and shine 30% brighter compared to when it's at its farthest point.

This November's supermoon represents the second in a series of three supermoons for the year and stands out as the closest, with the moon approaching Earth at a distance of just under 222,000 miles (357,000 kilometers).

Astronomer Lawrence Wasserman from Lowell Observatory explains that during a supermoon, tidal forces may be slightly intensified due to the moon's closer position, though these changes typically aren't dramatically perceptible.

Viewing this celestial phenomenon requires no specialized equipment—just clear skies. However, detecting the increase in the moon's apparent size with the unaided eye can be challenging.

Shannon Schmoll, director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, notes via email that "the difference becomes most apparent when comparing with other images or observations."

Supermoons occur several times annually. October featured a supermoon that made our natural satellite appear somewhat enlarged, while December will host the final supermoon of the year.