November’s supermoon is special, and here’s why – NBC Chicago

This week’s full moon will also be a supermoon, the last in 2024 and the last we’ll see for a while.

So what makes the ‘Beaver Moon’, as it was named by Native Americans, so special this month? Here’s what you need to know.

When will the supermoon be in the sky?

According to Astronomy Magazinethe moon will reach its full phase around 6:26 a.m. Central Standard Time Friday morning.

It will happen just before sunrise in Chicago, which happens at 6:40am

What is a supermoon?

According to NASA, a supermoon is occurring when the moon is within 90% of its closest approach distance to Earth. That distance is approximately 221,938 miles, according to the agency.

Supermoons appear slightly larger in the sky and quite a bit brighter than a moon at its apogee, or its farthest point from Earth in its orbit.

According to NASA, supermoons always occur consecutively, and there are typically three to four per year.

What makes this month’s supermoon special?

According to NASA, this month’s supermoon will be the last to occur at full moon until October 2025, when nearly 11 months will pass without a supermoon visible in the night sky.

There will be four straight supermoons between October 2025 and January 2026according to the agency.