The Best Time to See the Supermoon on Sunday

Look up to the skies this weekend to see the fourth and final Supermoon of the year.

This month’s full moon, also known as the Cold Moon, will appear up to 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than usual on Sunday evening.

The Supermoon happens a handful of times per year when the moon reaches its perigee — the point in its orbit where it’s closest to Earth.

For those keeping time, the moon will reach its peak fullness at 10:47 a.m. ET on the morning of Sunday, December 3. It will reach its perigee the following morning at 3:45 a.m. ET. The moon will likely be at its most spectacular when it rises from the horizon Sunday night at dusk.

Stargazers don’t need to make any travel plans to catch the celestial phenomenon; it will be visible to anyone with a view of the moon.

Those who live near water are likely to notice a higher tide on Sunday because of the Supermoon’s pull.

But those who miss Sunday night’s Supermoon won’t have to wait long to see another. 2018 will start off with two successive Supermoons on January 2 and January 31.

And stay tuned to the stars for this month’s Geminid Meteor Shower on December 13 and 14, when stargazers have the potential to see up to 120 meteors per hour.