The supermoon in October, together with a comet, creates a special nighttime spectacle

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — October Supermoon is the next of the year and it is team up with a comet for a rare stargazing session for two.

The third of four supermoons This year it will be 222,055 miles (357,364 kilometers) away on Wednesday evening, making it appear even larger and brighter than it did in August and September. It reaches its full moon phase on Thursday.

In a twist of cosmic fate, a comet is nearby. Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas was discovered last year and is now prominent in the Northern Hemisphere after wowing stargazers in the Southern Hemisphere.

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

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

Better catch the comet; it may never come back. But don't worry if you miss Thursday's supermoon. The fourth and final supermoon of the year will rise on November 15th.

What makes a moon so great?

More of a popular term than a scientific one, a supermoon occurs when a full lunar phase is accompanied by a particularly close orbit around the Earth. Due to the Moon's ever-changing oval orbit, this typically only happens three to four times a year and in succession.

A supermoon is obviously not larger, but it can appear that way, although scientists say the difference may be barely noticeable.

How do supermoons compare?

This year there are a quartet of supermoons.

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

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

What's in it for me?

Scientists point out that only the keenest observers can spot the subtle differences. It's easier to see the change in brightness – a supermoon can be 30% brighter than average.

As the United States and other countries increase exploration of the moon with landers and eventually astronauts, the moon is brighter than ever.

___

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