This November, sky-watchers will be treated to one of the year’s most impressive celestial events: the Supermoon — when Earth’s natural satellite appears bigger and brighter than usual. The phenomenon arises because the Moon follows an elliptical orbit around Earth, meaning its distance varies between roughly 400,000 km (apogee) and closer to 360,000 km (perigee). When a full Moon happens near perigee, it can appear up to 14 % larger and as much as 30 % brighter than when it's at its farthest.

Named “supermoon” by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979, the event is technically known as “perigee-syzygy”: the alignment of Sun, Earth and Moon when the Moon is near its closest orbital point. While visually striking, this closer proximity doesn’t significantly alter Earth’s internal geologic systems — though it may cause slightly higher tides.

For observers, the best time to catch the supermoon is shortly after moonrise, when it appears near the horizon and may seem even larger thanks to optical illusions. Cities with clear skies and minimal light pollution offer the best vantage.