Tonight's harvest moon: the last supermoon of the year

Thursday evening, the last supermoon of the year will rise. This is the fourth and last supermoon of the year, so you will want to head out and get a glimpse if the weather allows it.

A brilliant full moon will rise this evening. The full moon that occurs closest to the September equinox is traditionally given the name the Harvest Moon. It is said that in the past, the light of September's full moon would allow farmers to work late into the night, thus the nickname for this full moon.

This evening's full moon being a supermoon will add to its luster. A supermoon occurs when a full moon reaches perigree, or the nearest point to Earth on its elliptical orbit around our planet. According to NASA, a supermoon can appear as much as 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than the faintest full moon, also known as a micromoon.

Many are calling this full moon the "Super Harvest Moon," but to most it will look like a typical full moon, just slightly larger and brighter to the naked eye. While the moon rise will happen this evening, peak illumination doesn't occur until 6 a.m. Friday ET.

The next supermoon won't occur for nearly a year, with the next one happening on September 18, 2024. If you want to know whether you will have a good view of the supermoon, check evening conditions on the WeatherRadar. You can also get the latest astro info, including moon rise and set, through the Weather & Radar app.