There have already been two supermoons this year – August’s Blue Moon and September’s Harvest Moon.
This Hunter’s Moon will be the third of fourth in the year and will be the brightest.
The Moon’s orbit around Earth is elliptical which means there are times when it is further away – apogee – and times when it is closer – perigee.
On Wednesday night the Moon was at perigee, around 222,055 miles (357,363km) away.
By comparison, at apogee the Moon is 252,088 miles (405,696 km) away from Earth.
The Hunter’s supermoon will therefore appear around 14% brighter and 30% bigger than other full moons.
It will appear even bigger and brighter – perhaps with a reddish tinge – as it rises or falls near the horizon.
This is down to the “Moon illusion” which tricks the eye into thinking the Moon is larger when we see it with a foreground of buildings, trees or hills.
Photographers using a long lens will also give the illusion of a larger Moon.
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