The moon will appear slightly larger and brighter tonight during a phenomenon called a “supermoon.”
October’s supermoon is the first of three this year. It occurs when the full moon is closest to Earth in its orbit. That makes the moon appear up to 14 times larger and 30 times brighter than the faintest moon of the year, according to NASA.
This subtle difference happens a few times a year, sometimes coinciding with other astronomical events like lunar eclipses.
A supermoon can be seen by anyone in the world without special equipment, weather permitting. But the difference can be hard to spot, especially if people haven’t seen a “regular” moon the previous nights.
The moon will pass about 225,000 miles (361,459 km) from Earth. The closest supermoon of the year is expected in November, followed by another in December.
The spectacle continues in 2026 with two lunar eclipses, a total eclipse that will be visible across North America, Asia and Australia in March and a partial eclipse in August that will be seen in the Americas, Africa and Europe.
