The recurring cycle of supermoons
The closest full moon supermoon in 2025 will recur after 14 lunar months (14 returns to full moon) after the closest full supermoon of 2024. That’s because 14 returns to full moon almost exactly equal 15 returns to perigee, a period of about one year, one month, and 18 days.
The mean lunar month (full moon to full moon, or new moon to new moon) = 29.53059 days, whereas the mean anomalistic month (perigee to perigee, or apogee to apogee) = 27.55455 days. Hence:
14 lunar months (14 returns to full moon) x 29.53059 days = 413.428 days
15 anomalistic months (15 returns to lunar perigee) x 27.55455 days = 413.318 days
So given that closest supermoon recurs in cycles of 413 days (about one year, one month and 18 days), we can expect the closest full moon supermoon to come about one month and 18 days later next year. Thus, the closest full supermoon of 2025 – November 5 – will be followed by the closest full supermoon 14 months later – December 24 – in 2026.
What about micromoons?
The opposite of a supermoon is a micromoon. That’s when the new or full moon reaches apogee or its greatest distance from Earth. A full micromoon appears about 12-14% smaller than a full supermoon and about 7% smaller than an average full moon.
The average moon distance of 238,900 miles (384,472 km). In 2025 there are three full micromoons, they are on March 14, April 13 and May 12. The micromoon on April 13 is the most distant full moon of the year and will lie 252,280 miles (406,006 kilometers) away.
There are also three new micromoons in 2025. They are on October 21, November 20 and December 20. The micromoon on November 20 is the most distant new moons this year. It’ll lie 252,699 miles (406,681 kilometers) away.
Bottom line: What’s a supermoon? We have 5 new supermoons early in 2025. Then we’re having 3 full supermoons in a row to end the year. Plus, January 2026 will have the last of four supermoons in a row.
Reference
Perigee apogee calculator based on Meeus
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