This year, the full moons of October, November and December will all be supermoons, i.e. when the moon is as close to the earth as it will be all year.
But November’s supermoon will not only be the largest since 1948, but will also be the closest moon to us until 2034, reports NASA.
Visible in the sky from Sunday night, this moon will have a brighter and larger appearance than other full moons this year.
November’s full moon is also known as the ‘Beaver Moon,’ as it is historically a signal to hunters in the Northern Hemisphere to set their traps for the animals before rivers froze.
How can I see the supermoon in New Zealand?
In order for us Kiwis to view the supermoon, the advice is to get a view of the eastern horizon at 8.45pm on Tuesday November 15, when we will need clear skies for the full effect.
While the moon will actually be at its closest on Monday night – cloud cover and its position in the sky will diminish the effect, so the advice is to watch the moon rise over the horizon on Tuesday.
According to Auckland’s Stardome astronomer Dr Grant Christie, it’s at this point we will see a big yellowy ball rise over the horizon.
“If it’s a fine evening, it does look spectacular – I’ve watched a few of them and you’d think after 50 years of astronomy it would lose some of the magic, but it’s always a sight to behold,” Dr Christie told the New Zealand Herald.
