INDIANA – The fourth and final supermoon of 2024 will light up the night sky on Thursday, offering one last chance to catch a glimpse of the lunar phenomenon before it’s gone for the year.
This supermoon will be exceptionally bright and large within 225,000 miles (361,867 kilometers) of Earth. It won’t reach its complete phase until Friday, but the moon will already be noticeably more significant and luminous as it rises on Thursday night.
Though “supermoon” is more popular than scientific, it refers to a full moon that coincides with the moon’s closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit. This alignment occurs just a few times a year, and when it happens, the moon can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual — although the difference is often subtle to the naked eye.
While the moon’s size doesn’t technically change, the visual effect can still be striking, especially when viewed on a clear night.
The timing is perfect for moon-gazers, coming right after the peak of the Taurid meteor shower and just before the Leonid meteor shower reaches its most active phase later this month.
For those planning to stargaze in 2025, mark your calendars — there will be three supermoons next year, starting in October.
