When is the last supermoon of the year? When to Look – NBC Chicago

The final supermoon of 2024 – and the last we'll see for almost a year – will rise this week, but when should you look up?

The upcoming supermoon will be the fourth and final of the year and will look larger and brighter than usual as it moves to about 225,000 miles from Earth.

And this month's supermoon will last for some time, as the next one won't rise until fall 2025.

When will the next supermoon appear in the sky?

The Beaver Moon will come within about 225,000 miles of Earth on Thursday. However, it will not reach its full moon phase until Friday.

The full moon phase begins at 3:28 p.m. CST and will officially rise in the Chicago area at 4:05 p.m. CST, depending on the time and date.

NASA reported that the moon “will appear full for about three days at this time, from a few hours before sunrise on Thursday morning to a few hours before sunrise on Sunday morning.”

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

What is a Supermoon?

According to NASA, a supermoon occurs when the moon moves within 90% of its closest approach to Earth. According to the agency, this distance is approximately 221,938 miles.

A supermoon is obviously not larger, but it can appear that way, although scientists say the difference may be barely noticeable. Experts say it's easier to see the change in brightness – a supermoon can be 30% brighter than average.

According to NASA, supermoons always occur one after the other, typically three to four per year.

How do other supermoons compare?

This year there are a quartet of supermoons.

The one in August was 224,917 miles away. September was 222,131 miles away. A partial lunar eclipse also occurred that night, visible across much of the Americas, Africa and Europe, as Earth's shadow fell on the Moon, resembling a small bite.

October's supermoon was the closest of the year at 222,055 miles from Earth. This month's supermoon will be closest on Thursday and reach full lunar phase the next day.

When is the next supermoon?

According to NASA, this month's supermoon will be the last to occur during a full moon until October 2025, with nearly 11 months passing without a supermoon visible in the night sky.

According to the agency, there will be four supermoons in a row between October 2025 and January 2026.