The biggest supermoon of 2025 will grace our skies on Wednesday, November 5. At 5:30 p.m. EST, it will be at its closest point to Earth, sitting about 221,726 miles away. Many will say it looks full, but it will actually be a waning gibbous moon, already past its peak.
When we think of supermoons, the term often leads many to rush outside, expecting something magical. However, most won’t notice a massive difference. Supermoons happen when the moon is at perigee, the closest point in its orbit. This particular moon will be the closest for 2025, but next year’s May full moon will be at apogee, its farthest point, appearing significantly smaller—often referred to as a “micro-moon.” Interestingly, while many claim that a supermoon is much brighter, the difference in brightness is subtle, usually only about 0.2 or 0.3 magnitude, nearly invisible to the naked eye.
A phone call to a planetarium revealed a common disappointment. A woman expressed her frustration after eagerly anticipating a significantly brighter moon. “I thought it would be like a switch going from 100 to 150 watts,” she said. It’s a relatable sentiment, reflecting how expectations can alter our experiences of celestial events.
The moon’s brightness and size can appear more pronounced when it’s near the horizon due to an optical illusion. People often report feeling the moon looks larger, fueled by both hype and fascinating optical effects.
This supermoon will also affect our oceans. With its proximity, it will cause larger tidal changes known as perigean spring tides. These tides can lead to significant changes in sea levels, especially dangerous during coastal storms. The gravitational pull from the moon, combined with the sun’s influence, leads to these heightened tides—significantly stronger than at other points of the moon’s cycle.
Interestingly, this supermoon phenomenon has been popularized, leading to more of these events being branded as “supermoons.” Full moons flanking the supermoon are often labeled similarly, creating a buzz around what is, essentially, a monthly occurrence. Some experts argue this could dilute the specialness of the term. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson famously likened it to calling a slightly larger pizza a “Super-pizza.” Is that really a meaningful distinction?
As we prepare to admire this 2025 supermoon, it’s essential to understand what’s actually happening in our skies. It’s not just about looks. Instead, it’s a blend of fascinating celestial mechanics and our perceptions shaped by language and expectation.
For more on the science behind the moon and tides, check out NASA’s insights on moon tides.
This understanding can deepen our appreciation for these cosmic events and remind us that sometimes, what we see is merely a reflection of our perceptions.
