November's full moon will be the closest supermoon of the year, drawing to just under 222,000 miles (357,000 km) from Earth. NASA says a supermoon can appear up to about 14% larger and roughly 30% brighter than the year's faintest full moon. No special equipment is needed to view it, though binoculars or a camera will show more detail. Experts note any tidal effects are typically small and the size change is easiest to appreciate by comparing photos taken on different nights.
How to See November's Supermoon — This Year's Closest Full Moon
November's full moon will be the closest supermoon of the year, drawing to just under 222,000 miles (357,000 km) from Earth. NASA says a supermoon can appear up to about 14% larger and roughly 30% brighter than the year's faintest full moon. No special equipment is needed to view it, though binoculars or a camera will show more detail. Experts note any tidal effects are typically small and the size change is easiest to appreciate by comparing photos taken on different nights.
12:19, 02.11.2025Science
How to See November's Supermoon — This Year's Closest Full Moon
On Wednesday night the full moon will appear a bit larger and brighter as it reaches this year's closest supermoon. The moon will come within just under 222,000 miles (357,000 kilometers) of Earth — its perigee, or nearest point in its orbit.
The moon's orbit around Earth is elliptical, so its distance changes as it moves. A "supermoon" is an informal term for a full moon that occurs when the moon is nearer to Earth in that orbit. NASA says a supermoon can look up to about 14% larger and roughly 30% brighter than the year's faintest full moon.
Will tides be affected? Because the moon is closer at perigee, tidal effects can be slightly stronger, which may produce marginally higher tides in some areas. Astronomer Lawrence Wasserman of Lowell Observatory cautions, however, that the difference is usually small and not easily noticed on most coastlines.
Do you need special equipment? No telescope is required to enjoy the view if skies are clear. Binoculars or a telephoto camera lens will reveal more surface detail, and photographing the moon on different nights makes the modest size difference easier to detect. As Shannon Schmoll, director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, puts it:
“The difference is most obvious as a comparison between other images or observations.”
This November event is the second of three supermoons this year and is the closest. October's full moon already appeared somewhat larger, and another supermoon is expected in December.