November’s supermoon: When to see it in South Africa

South Africans will have a chance to see a supermoon this November, when the Full Moon lights up the night sky later in the month.

The November Full Moon is particularly notable because it is the first of three consecutive full supermoons, with further supermoons following in December and January. Here’s what skywatchers need to know.

What makes it a supermoon?

The supermoon occurs on 24 November 2026, with the exact Full Moon occurring at 16:53 local time. But what exactly makes it a supermoon?

The Moon does not orbit Earth in a perfect circle. Its orbit is slightly elliptical, meaning its distance from Earth changes throughout the month.

A supermoon occurs when a Full Moon happens while the Moon is relatively close to Earth.

As a result, the Moon can appear slightly larger and brighter than an average Full Moon. However, the difference isn’t dramatic.

You shouldn’t expect the Moon to suddenly look enormous in the sky. The change in apparent size is subtle.

The easiest time to enjoy the November supermoon will be around moonrise and during the early evening. The Moon can appear particularly large when it is close to the horizon.

This makes moonrise a particularly good time for photographs, especially if you have an interesting skyline or landscape in the foreground.

November’s supermoon starts a lunar trio

The 24 November event is just the beginning. NASA says it will be the first in a sequence of three consecutive full supermoons, followed by another in December and a third in January.

That gives South African skywatchers three opportunities in succession to watch and photograph unusually close Full Moons.

So, if the weather doesn’t cooperate on 24 November, there will be another chance the following month.