The fourth and last supermoon of 2024 will show up in the night sky this Friday (15). In Brazil, it should rise on the horizon towards the east at around 6:30 pm (Brasília time).
Supermoons occur when a full Moon coincides with the moment in which the satellite is at its closest point to the Earth (perigee), as its orbit around the Earth is not a perfect circle, but an elliptical path.
Although there are different definitions for this, a flood that is at least 90% at perigee is usually considered a Supermoon. Our satellite can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter at perigee than when it is at its furthest point from the planet, known as apogee.
During each 27-day orbit around Earth, the Moon is when it is about 356,800 km from Earth and at apogee when it is about 406,400 km from our planet. However, the exact distance of these points varies, and some Supermoons may come closer than others.
The phenomenon occurs three to four times a year, always consecutively.
Beaver Moon?
November’s full moon is also known as the Beaver Moon.
The nickname was given by the native people of the United States, as this is the month in which beavers finished building their dens, made of branches and mud, to store enough food and prepare for the arrival of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
See images of the biggest Supermoon of the year in October
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Hunter’s Moon, the biggest Supermoon of the year, is seen from the city of Porto Alegre, on Thursday night (17) • JORGE LANSARIN/ENQUADRAR/ESTADÃO CONTÚDO
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Hunter’s Moon, the biggest Supermoon of the year, is seen from the city of João Pessoa (PB), on the night of this Thursday (17) • JOSEMAR GONÇALVES/ENQUADRAR/ESTADÃO CONTÚDO
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Hunter’s Moon, the biggest Supermoon of the year, is seen from the city of Porto Alegre, on Thursday night (17) • JORGE LANSARIN/ENQUADRAR/ESTADÃO CONTÚDO
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Hunter’s Moon, the biggest Supermoon of the year, is seen from the city of Porto Alegre, on Thursday night (17) • JORGE LANSARIN/ENQUADRAR/ESTADÃO CONTÚDO
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Hunter’s Moon, the biggest Supermoon of the year, is seen from the city of Porto Alegre, on Thursday night (17) • JORGE LANSARIN/ENQUADRAR/ESTADÃO CONTÚDO
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Hunter’s Moon, the biggest Supermoon of the year, is seen from Xangri-lá, on the north coast of Rio Grande do Sul, on Thursday night (17) • EVANDRO LEAL/ENQUADRAR/ESTADÃO CONTENT
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Hunter’s Moon, the biggest Supermoon of the year, is seen from Xangri-lá, on the north coast of Rio Grande do Sul, on Thursday night (17) • EVANDRO LEAL/ENQUADRAR/ESTADÃO CONTENT
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Hunter’s Moon, the biggest Supermoon of the year, is seen from the city of Rio Claro, in the interior of São Paulo, on Thursday night (17) • IGOR DO VALE/ALTAPHOTO/ESTADÃO CONTENT
