November's 'Supermoon' Once In Lifetime Event

There hasn’t been a full moon like this one in more than six decades.

Sure, we’ve seen supermoons before.  This supermoon will be the second in a series of three this fall. But the full moon that peaks on Monday, November 14 will be closer to Earth than any other since 1948. The full moon won’t come this close again until 2034.

The scientific term “perigee moon” refers to when the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. When a perigee moon coincides with the full moon, the extra-large, brightly lit moon is known as a supermoon.

NASA says this month’s supermoon will appear 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger than a typical full moon. 

Those looking at the moon as it hovers closer to the horizon are in for a treat. NASA reports that these observers will be able to see a “moon illusion,” which makes the moon look exceptionally big when viewed through foreground objects like tall buildings.

This moon will reach the crest of its full phase at 7:52 a.m. and perigee will occur within about an hour to an hour and a half of that time, according to EarthSky.org. But it should look exceptionally big and bright throughout the night.

What if you miss this month’s supermoon? You’ll have one more chance on December 14, when the last supermoon of 2016 will rise in the sky. However, it won’t be quite as close as November’s, which NASA says will be a “showstopper.”