CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Catch better this week supermoon. It will be a while until the next one.

This will be the fourth and final supermoon of the year and will look bigger and brighter than normal as it passes about 220,000 miles (361,867 kilometers) from Earth on Thursday. It won’t reach its full moon phase until Friday.

The supermoon rises after the peak of the Taurid meteor shower and before the Leonids are most active.

Last month’s supermoon was 4,500 kilometers closer, making it the closest of the year. The series started in August.

Expect three supermoons starting in October in 2025.

What makes a moon so great?

A supermoon is more of a popular than scientific term: a supermoon occurs when a full moon phase synchronizes with a particularly short swing around the Earth. This usually only happens three or four times a year and consecutively, given the moon’s constantly changing, oval-shaped orbit.

A supermoon is obviously not bigger, but it can appear that way, although scientists say the difference may be barely noticeable.

How do supermoons compare?

This year there is a quartet of supermoons.

The one in August was 224,917 miles (361,970 kilometers) away. September’s was 357,486 kilometers away. A partial lunar eclipse also occurred that night, visible over much of the Americas, Africa and Europe as the Earth’s shadow fell on the moon, appearing like a small bite.

October’s supermoon was the closest of the year at 222,055 miles (357,364 kilometers) from Earth. This month’s supermoon will make its closest approach on Thursday, followed by the full moon phase the following day.

What does it gain me?

Scientists point out that only the keenest observers can distinguish the subtle differences. It’s easier to detect the change in brightness: a supermoon can be 30% brighter than average.

As the US and other countries ramp up lunar exploration with landers and eventually astronauts, the moon beckons brighter than ever.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.