NEW YORK — The moon will look slightly bigger and brighter Wednesday night during the closest supermoon of the year.

The moon’s orbit around the Earth isn’t a perfect circle, so it gets nearer and farther as it swings around. A so-called supermoon happens when a full moon is closer to Earth in its orbit. That makes the moon look up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year, according to NASA.

November’s supermoon is the second of three supermoons this year and also the closest: The moon will come within just under 222,000 miles (357,000 kilometers) of Earth.

Tides may be slightly higher during a supermoon because the moon is closer to Earth, said astronomer Lawrence Wasserman with Lowell Observatory. But the difference isn’t very noticeable.

No special equipment is needed to view the supermoon if clear skies permit. But the change in the moon’s size can be tough to discern with the naked eye.

“The difference is most obvious as a comparison between other images or observations,” said Shannon Schmoll, director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, in an email.

Supermoons happen a few times a year. One in October made the moon look somewhat larger, and another in December will be the last of the year.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

When astronomy fans look to the sky this week, they’ll get to see November’s Beaver full moon, the last of 2024’s four consecutive supermoons.

The 2024 series of supermoons started in August with a rare supermoon blue moon. After this month’s Beaver Moon, there won’t be another supermoon until late next year.

Why is the November full moon called the Beaver Moon?

November’s full moon is called the Beaver Moon, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. The name was chosen because this is the time of year when beavers start sheltering in their lodges after having prepared food stores for the winter. 

This month’s full moon also has several other names tied to winter and animals preparing for the cold weather. Other full names for the November full moon are the Frost Moon, the Freezing Moon, the Digging Moon, the Deer Rutting Moon and the Algonquin Whitefish Moon. 

When will the November supermoon be visible?

The full moon is expected to reach its peak on Friday, Nov. 15, at 4:29 p.m. EST, NASA said. The Old Farmer’s Almanac details specific moonrise times for different ZIP codes across the U.S. 

Around 96% of the moon’s nearside will be illuminated by the sun on Thursday, according to NASA. By Friday, 100% of the moon’s nearside will be illuminated. About 99% of it will be illuminated by the sun on Saturday and 96% of the moon will be illuminated on Sunday.

You won’t need binoculars or a telescope to enjoy the spectacular view.

What makes supermoons special?

A supermoon happens when the moon is simultaneously full and at the part of its orbit that’s closest to Earth, according to NASA. The moon’s distance from Earth varies between around 221,457 miles and 252,712 miles. 

During this month’s supermoon, the moon will be about 224,385 miles from Earth. 

Supermoons appear larger than the average full moon. It’s similar to the size difference between a quarter and a nickel, according to NASA. Supermoons are also about 16% brighter than an average moon. 

While all supermoons appear bigger and brighter than the average full moon, there is some variance. According to NASA, the November full moon will appear 6.2% bigger and 12.8% brighter than 2024’s average full moon.

When will the first supermoon of 2025 occur?

Next year, expect three supermoons, starting in October, according to earthsky.org. There will be one on Oct. 7, 2025, followed by Nov. 5 and Dec. 4. Then the following new year will start with a supermoon on Jan. 3, 2026.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — October’s supermoon is the closest of the year and it’s teaming up with a comet for a rare stargazing two-for-one.

The third of four supermoons this year, it will be 222,055 miles (357,364 kilometers) away Wednesday night, making it seem even bigger and brighter than in August and September. It will reach its full lunar phase Thursday.

In a twist of cosmic fate, a comet is in the neighborhood. Discovered last year, comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas is now prominent in the Northern Hemisphere after wowing stargazers in the Southern Hemisphere.

The moonlight will wash out some of the comet’s tail, but it’s still worth a look after sunset, said NASA’s Bill Cooke.

“Most astronomers hate the full moon because its bright light messes up observing other objects. So it’s a bit hard for us to wax poetic about it even if it’s the biggest supermoon of 2024,” he said in an email.

Better catch the comet; it may never return. But don’t fret if you miss Thursday’s supermoon. The fourth and final supermoon of the year will rise on Nov. 15.

More a popular term than a scientific one, a supermoon occurs when a full lunar phase syncs up with an especially close swing around Earth. This usually happens only three or four times a year and consecutively, given the moon’s constantly shifting, oval-shaped orbit.

A supermoon obviously isn’t bigger, but it can appear that way, although scientists say the difference can be barely perceptible.

There’s a quartet of supermoons this year.

The one in August was 224,917 miles (361,970 kilometers) away. September’s was nearly 3,000 miles (4,484 kilometers) closer the night of Sept. 17 into the following morning. A partial lunar eclipse also unfolded that night, visible in much of the Americas, Africa and Europe as Earth’s shadow fell on the moon, resembling a small bite.

October’s supermoon is the year’s closest at 222,055 miles (357,364 kilometers) from Earth, followed by the November supermoon at a distance of 224,853 miles (361,867 kilometers).

Scientists point out that only the keenest observers can discern the subtle differences. It’s easier to detect the change in brightness — a supermoon can be 30% brighter than average.

With the U.S. and other countries ramping up lunar exploration with landers and eventually astronauts, the moon beckons brighter than ever.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.