A supermoon is one of those small celestial gifts that invites you to pause, look up, and remember how closely we’re tied to the rhythms of creation. It isn’t a different kind of moon, although it certainly looks that way.

A supermoon happens when the full moon occurs at the same time the moon is at, or very near, the point in its elliptical orbit that brings it closest to Earth. This point is called perigee, and because the moon is several thousand miles nearer than usual, it appears larger to the eye and slightly brighter, with a softer, more luminous glow that seems to rest gently on the landscape.

The effect is subtle rather than dramatic. You won’t see the moon looming over rooftops like something from a film poster, yet you may notice that it feels fuller, more present, and somehow more compelling. People often describe supermoons as stirring something emotional, perhaps because light has a way of reaching more than our eyes. The moon’s pull shapes the tides, the habits of wildlife, and the way we tell stories. When it appears a little closer, those connections feel closer too.

Supermoons have become moments when communities gather. Photographers wait for that quiet instant when the rising moon sits on the horizon, and runners, night hikers, and families step outdoors simply to enjoy the sight. It’s a reminder that the heavens aren’t distant or indifferent, they’re part of the same world that holds us, and sometimes they shine a little brighter to make sure we notice.