The supermoon on January 3, 2026, has passed. The next supermoon will occur on November 24, 2026. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
A supermoon—a bigger and brighter full moon than usual—will appear in our sky on the night of November 24–25, 2026, called the Full Super Beaver Moon. It will be the first of four consecutive supermoons in 2026–2027.
Supermoon in November 2026
Moment of supermoon: The moment of the supermoon will fall on November 24, 2026, at 14:53 UTC (9:53 a.m. EST).
When to see: The supermoon will rise in the east around sunset on November 24, 2026, and be visible throughout the night of November 24-25, 2026. It will shine near the famous open star cluster, the Pleiades, and the bright orange star Aldebaran.
Distance of the supermoon: The distance of the supermoon from Earth will be 360,768 kilometers. The average distance of the moon from Earth is 384,400 kilometers.
Apparent size of the supermoon: The apparent size of the supermoon will be 33.12 arcminutes in diameter. The average apparent size of the moon is 31 arcminutes in diameter. So the supermoon in November 2026 will appear 6.8% bigger than the average full moon.
Brightness of the supermoon: The supermoon in November 2026 will appear 11.4% brighter than the average full moon.
How close to perigee: The supermoon in November 2026 will occur about 1.3 days before the lunar perigee. It will be 96.9% close to its perigee.
Four consecutive supermoons in 2026-2027
Here are the four consecutive full moons in 2026–2027 that qualify as supermoons — two in 2026 and two in 2027:
| Supermoon date (UTC) | Moon name | Distance (km) | How close to perigee |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 24, 2026 | Full Super Beaver Moon | 360,768 | 96.9% |
| December 24, 2026 | Full Super Cold Moon | 356,740 | 99.8% |
| January 22, 2027 | Full Super Wolf Moon | 357,644 | 99.3% |
| February 20, 2027 | Full Super Snow Moon | 363,306 | 94.8% |
What makes a full moon a supermoon?
Full moons can occur at any point along the moon’s elliptical orbit, but when a full moon occurs at or near the perigee—the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit—it looks slightly bigger and brighter than an average full moon.
Since “supermoon” is not an official astronomical term, there is no strict definition for how close a full moon must be to perigee to qualify as a supermoon. Generally, if a full moon occurs at or within 90% of its perigee, it is referred to as a supermoon.
The more precise astronomical term for a supermoon is “perigean full moon” or “perigee syzygy.” Syzygy is the alignment of three celestial objects, in this case the sun, moon, and Earth.
How often does a supermoon occur?
A full moon occurs once every 29.5 days, or roughly once a month. Therefore, there are typically 12 full moons in a year. However, not every full moon is a supermoon.
Three to four times a year, a full moon occurs within 90% of its perigee. That’s why supermoons appear three to four times a year, and when they do, they occur in consecutive months.
Please bookmark Spaceandtelescope.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get latest space news, upcoming skywatching events and astronomy-related content.
