Stargazers will be treated to a possibly once-in-a-lifetime event this month when an “extra-super” supermoon is set to appear on November 14, the biggest and brightest in almost 70 years.
According to NASA, a “supermoon” — also known as a perigee moon — refers broadly to when a full moon is closer to Earth than normal. “When a supermoon occurs, the full moon can appear up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than an apogee full moon.”
The Nov. 14 event is the second of three consecutive supermoons that will occur as a result of the moon becoming full on the same day as perigee, NASA said. The first took place on Oct. 16, while the last will be visible Dec. 14.
December’s supermoon will be notable because it will take place during the Geminid meteor shower, likely wiping the view out of the normally spectacular event.