(Learn about the eight moon phases.)
When a full moon coincides with the time of perigee, we get a supermoon—a lunar disk that appears slightly larger and shines more brightly than usual. Compared with the farthest full moon, a supermoon can appear up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter. Against an average full moon, the difference is closer to 7 percent larger and 15 percent brighter. To the naked eye, the change may seem subtle, but side-by-side photos reveal just how striking the effect truly is.
Why 2025 will have three consecutive supermoons
Supermoons aren’t rare—we typically see a few each year. What is unusual is that 2025 will have a streak of three consecutive full moons lining up with perigee. This happens because the timing of perigee slowly drifts relative to the lunar phases, completing a full cycle about every 14 lunar months. Sometimes that cycle means only one full moon is close enough to qualify as “super.” Other times, like in 2025, the alignment is just right to produce a run of three in a row.
The cosmic party continues into 2026 as January 3 will be next year’s first supermoon, which technically means we are about to witness four back-to-back supermoons.
The names behind the moons
For centuries, full moons have carried names that reflect seasonal rhythms, survival strategies, and cultural traditions. Many of the English-language names most familiar today were preserved through sources like the Farmer’s Almanac, which drew on both European and Indigenous naming practices.
