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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Better catch this week’s supermoon. It will be a while before the next one.

This will be the fourth and final supermoon of the year, appearing larger and brighter than usual as it sits about 362,500 kilometers from Earth on Thursday. It will not reach its full lunar phase until Friday.

The supermoon rises after the peak of the Taurid meteor shower and before the Leonids are at their most active.

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Last month’s supermoon was closer than 4,500 kilometers, making it the closest of the year. The series debuted in August.

In 2025, expect three supermoons starting in October.

What makes a moon so awesome?

More of a popular term than a scientific one, a supermoon occurs when a full lunar phase synchronizes with a particularly close wobble around Earth. This usually only happens three or four times a year and consecutively, given the Moon’s oval and ever-changing orbit.

A supermoon is obviously not bigger, but it can appear that way, although scientists say the difference may be barely noticeable.

How do supermoons compare?

This year we are offering a quartet of supermoons.

That of August was at 361,970 kilometers. That of September was at 357,486 kilometers. A partial lunar eclipse also occurred that night, visible across much of the Americas, Africa, and Europe, as Earth’s shadow fell on part of the Moon, resembling to a small bite.

October’s supermoon was the closest of the year, 357,364 kilometers from Earth. This month’s supermoon will come closest on Thursday with the full lunar phase the following day.

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What do I gain from it?

Scientists emphasize that only the most careful observers can discern the subtle differences. It is easier to detect the change in brightness: a supermoon can be 30% brighter than average.

And as the United States and other countries ramp up lunar exploration with landers and eventually astronauts, the Moon appears brighter than ever.

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