The November, 2016 Supermoon will be one to see and remember because it will be the closest full moon to earth this century.

When is the November Supermoon?

The full moon of November 14 is not only the closest full moon of 2016 but also the closest full moon to date in the 21^st century. The full moon won’t come this close to Earth again until November 25, 2034. It will be so close we could call it the Super Supermoon 2016.

And, for those in North America the moon will closer to full on the night of November 13, so we essentially have two nights of watching the Super Supermoon 2016.

What time is the Super Supermoon?

The moon turns precisely full on November 14, 2016 at 1352 UTC, according to earthsky.org. “This full moon instant will happen in the morning hours before sunrise in western North America and the Pacific islands (to the east of the International Date Line).”

What is a full Supermoon?

The term supermoon has entered popular consciousness in recent years. Originally a term from modern astrology for a new or full moon that occurs with the moon is within 90% of its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit, supermoon now refers more broadly to a full moon that is closer to Earth than average. But why is the moon closer to Earth at some times but not others?

Since the moon’s orbit is elliptical, one side (perigee) is about 30,000 miles closer to Earth than the other (apogee). The word syzygy, in addition to being useful in word games, is the scientific name for when the Earth, sun, and moon line up as the moon orbits Earth. When perigee-syzygy of the Earth-moon-sun system occurs and the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun, we get a perigee moon or more commonly, a supermoon!

On November 14, it becomes full within about two hours of perigee—arguably making it an extra-super moon.

NASA contributed to this report.