Final Supermoon Of The Year Aligns With Leonid Meteor Shower This Weekend
Don’t miss the last supermoon of 2024 this Thursday, followed by the Leonid meteor shower peaking on Saturday night.
A supermoon happens when the full moon is closest to Earth in its orbit.
Skywatchers should get ready for this week's supermoon, the last one of the year. On Thursday, the fourth supermoon of 2024 will pass about 225,000 miles from Earth. This makes the moon appear larger and brighter than usual. It will reach its full phase on Friday, but it will look full both the day before and after.
The full moon in November is called the "Beaver Moon" because it marks the start of the beaver’s hibernation season. It will reach its peak at 4:29 pm Eastern Time on Friday. Even if you miss the exact time, you can still see the full moon a day before or after, says NASA's Noah Petro.
A supermoon happens when the full moon is closest to Earth in its orbit. This event only happens three or four times a year. While this month's supermoon will be slightly farther than October's, which was the closest of 2024, it will still be an impressive sight.
In addition to the supermoon, the Leonid meteor shower will peak on Saturday night and early Sunday. If the weather is clear, skywatchers in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres can enjoy both the full moon and the meteor shower.
It's shaping up to be an amazing sky show!
