The next supermoon rises on November 24, 2026 — and an even bigger one follows a month later, on Christmas Eve. If you have ever looked up at a full moon and thought it seemed larger than usual, you may have been looking at a supermoon without knowing it. Or you may have been fooled by a trick of the eye. Either way, the supermoon is one of the most talked-about sights in the night sky, and also one of the most misunderstood.
So what is a supermoon, really? Does the moon actually grow bigger? Why does it happen only sometimes? And how much bigger does it honestly look? This guide answers the question what is a supermoon, and all of that, with the real dates of the 2026 supermoons and simple advice for watching the next one at its best.
The short answer: A supermoon is a full moon that happens when the moon is near perigee, the closest point of its orbit around Earth. Because it is closer than usual, it looks slightly larger and brighter than an average full moon — up to about 14% bigger and 30% brighter than a full moon at its farthest point.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Supermoon?
- Perigee and Apogee: Why the Moon’s Distance Changes
- How Much Bigger and Brighter Does It Look?
- Who Invented the Word Supermoon?
- Supermoon vs Micromoon
- Supermoons in 2026
- When Is the Next Supermoon?
- How to Watch a Supermoon
- Do Supermoons Affect Tides or Earthquakes?
- How to Photograph a Supermoon
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
What Is a Supermoon?
A supermoon is a full moon that coincides with the moon being close to Earth. The moon does not orbit us in a perfect circle. Its path is slightly elliptical, like a stretched-out oval, so its distance from Earth changes through the month. At its closest, called perigee, it is around 356,500 kilometres away. At its farthest, called apogee, it is around 406,700 kilometres away. That is a difference of about 50,000 kilometres.
When the moon turns full while it is near perigee, we call it a supermoon. It is still the same moon, shining with the same reflected sunlight. It simply happens to be closer to us that night, so it appears a little larger in the sky and a little brighter. The effect is real, but it is modest — much smaller than many photos and headlines suggest.
Perigee and Apogee: Why the Moon’s Distance Changes
The moon’s orbit is elliptical because gravity does not pull it in a perfect circle. As it travels around Earth, it speeds up near perigee and slows down near apogee, completing one full swing from closest to farthest and back in about 27.5 days. This cycle is called the anomalistic month. If you ask what is a supermoon in terms of distance, the answer is a full moon near perigee.
The average distance from Earth to the moon is about 384,400 kilometres. A full moon can fall anywhere along that range of distances, depending on where the moon happens to be in its orbit when it turns full. Most full moons are somewhere in the middle. A supermoon is simply a full moon that lands near the close end of the range.
There is no sharp line where an ordinary full moon becomes a supermoon. Different sources draw the line differently, which is why supermoon counts vary from one list to another. The most widely used rule, described below, counts a full moon as a supermoon when it comes within 90% of perigee. By that measure, 2026 has three supermoons.
How Much Bigger and Brighter Does It Look?
This is where expectations need managing. A supermoon can look up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a micromoon — a full moon at apogee, its farthest point. But that is the extreme comparison, the closest against the farthest. Compared with an average full moon, a supermoon is only about 7% larger and around 15% brighter. That modest difference is the honest answer to what is a supermoon and how much bigger it looks.
In practice, most people cannot tell the difference just by looking. The moon is high in a dark sky with nothing to compare it against, and a 7% change in size is hard for the eye to judge. What people usually notice instead is the moon illusion: when the moon is low on the horizon, just after moonrise, it looks enormous because the brain compares it with trees, buildings and hills. That effect happens with every full moon, supermoon or not.
So if a supermoon seems huge as it rises, enjoy it — but know that part of what you are seeing is your brain at work, not the moon itself. That is why what is a supermoon is as much a question about perception as about distance. The real difference is subtle, and it is best appreciated by photographing the moon on two different nights and comparing the pictures side by side.
Who Invented the Word Supermoon?
The term supermoon is not an official astronomical term. It was coined in 1979 by the astrologer Richard Nolle, who defined it as a new or full moon that occurs while the moon is within 90% of its closest approach to Earth. Astronomers generally prefer the plainer phrase “perigee full moon,” but Nolle’s catchy word won the public’s attention and stuck. The history of what is a supermoon shows how a catchy word can outlast the technical term it replaced.
NASA uses a similar guideline, describing a supermoon as a full moon that comes within at least 90% of perigee. Because the 90% line is a choice rather than a law of nature, different organisations publish slightly different supermoon lists. Some count three supermoons in 2026; others, using a looser distance cutoff, count more. The moon itself does not care about the label. What matters is the distance, and that is a measurable fact.
More Information: What Is a Blood Moon? Meaning, Causes and How to See One
Supermoon vs Micromoon
Every supermoon has an opposite: the micromoon. A micromoon is a full moon that happens near apogee, when the moon is at its farthest from Earth. It looks slightly smaller and dimmer than average, though again the difference is hard to spot with the naked eye. Understanding what is a supermoon also means understanding its opposite, the micromoon.
| Supermoon | Micromoon | |
|---|---|---|
| Moon’s position | Near perigee (closest) | Near apogee (farthest) |
| Distance from Earth | Around 356,500–363,000 km | Around 405,000–406,700 km |
| Apparent size | Up to 14% larger than a micromoon | Up to 14% smaller than a supermoon |
| Brightness | Up to 30% brighter than a micromoon | Up to 30% dimmer than a supermoon |
The most distant full moon of 2026 was the Blue Moon of May 31, about 406,100 kilometres away — a micromoon and a blue moon on the same night. The closest full moon of the year, by contrast, arrives on December 24, 2026, at about 356,740 kilometres. Comparing the two is the best way to see what a supermoon really does.
Supermoons in 2026
Using the widely used 90%-of-perigee rule, 2026 has exactly three supermoons. For anyone asking what is a supermoon in 2026, these three dates are the answer. Here they are:
| Date | Name | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 3, 2026 | Wolf Moon | About 362,313 km | The year’s first full moon, and its first supermoon |
| November 24, 2026 | Beaver Moon | About 360,767 km | The next supermoon — full at 14:54 UTC |
| December 24, 2026 | Cold Moon | About 356,740 km | The closest and brightest full moon of the year |
The year opens and closes with supermoons, with a long quiet gap in between. The December 24 Cold Moon is the one to watch: it is the closest full moon of 2026, roughly 8% larger and 16% brighter than an average full moon, and it rides high through the longest nights of the year.
When Is the Next Supermoon?
The next supermoon is the Beaver Moon on November 24, 2026, reaching full at 14:54 UTC. It will rise in the late afternoon or early evening, depending on where you live, and it will be worth a look — but the real show comes a month later. The Cold Moon on December 24, 2026, at 01:28 UTC, is the closest supermoon of the year, and Christmas Eve gives it a natural occasion. That is the next answer to what is a supermoon and when to see one.
If you can only watch one, choose December 24. Winter nights are long, the moon climbs high, and on a clear night with snow on the ground the light is remarkable. Check the moonrise time for your location, dress warmly, and give yourself a few minutes to let your eyes adjust.
How to Watch a Supermoon
Watching a supermoon needs no equipment and no expertise. Knowing what is a supermoon helps you know what to expect: a slightly larger, brighter full moon, at its best near moonrise. The best moment is moonrise, when the moon is low on the horizon and the moon illusion makes it look at its largest. Find a spot with a clear view to the east and something in the foreground — a skyline, a hill, a row of trees — to give the moon scale.
The moon rises around sunset on the night of a full moon, so you do not need to stay up late. Arrive a few minutes early, let your eyes adjust to the dark, and watch it climb. Binoculars will show the craters and dark plains in more detail, and they are a good middle ground if you do not own a telescope. But the naked eye is honestly enough. The supermoon is a sight for everyone, not just astronomers.
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Do Supermoons Affect Tides or Earthquakes?
Supermoons do affect the tides, slightly. When the moon is at perigee and lined up with the sun at full moon, their combined gravity pulls a little harder on Earth’s oceans, producing what are called perigean spring tides. These tides run a few centimetres higher than usual. In low-lying coastal areas, that can add to flooding during storms, but on its own it is a small effect. That small tidal effect is part of what is a supermoon, not a separate phenomenon.
Earthquakes are a different story. Despite many claims online, there is no reliable evidence that supermoons trigger earthquakes. The moon’s gravity does flex Earth’s crust by a tiny amount, but the extra force at perigee is far too small to set off a quake. Seismologists have looked for a link and found none worth reporting. A supermoon is a beautiful sight, not a warning sign.
How to Photograph a Supermoon
A supermoon is a fine subject for a first attempt at moon photography. The most common mistake is letting the camera decide the exposure: the bright moon against a dark sky usually comes out as a white blur. Switch to manual mode, use the longest zoom you have, and keep the shutter speed fast — the moon is brighter than it looks. Knowing what is a supermoon also helps you expose it correctly, because it is brighter than an average full moon.
Include foreground for scale. A supermoon over a skyline or a hill looks far more impressive than a lone disc in a black sky, because the foreground gives your eye something to measure it against. A tripod helps, but a wall or a fence post will do. Take several shots as the moon rises, while it is still low and near the horizon — that is when it looks its best.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a supermoon in simple terms?
A supermoon is a full moon that happens when the moon is near perigee, the closest point of its orbit around Earth. It looks slightly bigger and brighter than an average full moon.
How much bigger does a supermoon look?
Up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than a micromoon at the moon’s farthest point. Compared with an average full moon, the difference is about 7% in size — real, but hard to notice without a comparison.
Is a supermoon a real scientific term?
Not officially. The word was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979. Astronomers prefer “perigee full moon,” but the 90%-of-perigee rule behind the word is a genuine measure of distance.
When is the next supermoon?
The next supermoon, for anyone asking what is a supermoon and when the next one rises, is the Beaver Moon on November 24, 2026. The closest supermoon of the year follows on December 24, 2026, the Christmas Eve Cold Moon.
Can a supermoon cause earthquakes?
No. There is no reliable evidence linking supermoons to earthquakes. The moon’s gravity does flex Earth’s crust slightly, but the extra pull at perigee is far too small to trigger a quake.
Why does the moon look huge on the horizon?
That is the moon illusion. Your brain compares the low moon with trees and buildings and judges it bigger than the same moon high in an empty sky. It happens with every full moon, not just supermoons.
What is the opposite of a supermoon?
A micromoon: a full moon near apogee, the farthest point of the moon’s orbit. The Blue Moon of May 31, 2026 was a micromoon, about 406,100 kilometres away.
Final Thoughts
What is a supermoon? It is a modest wonder. It will not fill the sky or turn night into day, and anyone who promises you a giant moon is overselling it. What it does offer is a full moon at its closest and brightest, and a good reason to step outside on a specific night and look up with intent.
The dates to remember are November 24 and December 24, 2026. The Christmas Eve Cold Moon is the closest full moon of the year, and it is the one worth planning around. Find a clear eastern horizon, arrive at moonrise, and watch it climb. It will look bigger than usual — partly because it is, and partly because of the way your brain sees it. Both reasons are worth enjoying.
Read Also: What Is a Blue Moon? Meaning, Types and How Rare It Is
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