When is the best time to see the November 14 supermoon?
The moon will be at its most spectacular as the sky darkens and while it is close to the horizon. Melbourne Planetarium astronomer Tanya Hill said the best viewing window will be in the evening twilight, between moonrise and sunset. In Melbourne on November 14, you have between 7.40pm when the moon rises and 8.09pm when the sun sets. Sydneysiders have between moonrise at 7.07pm and 7.36pm when the sun sets.
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November's record-smashing supermoon
The biggest and brightest moon in 70 years to light-up the sky.
Where is the best spot to see it?
Getting prime pozzie means securing a spot which gives you a clear view of the easterly horizon, just before sunset. Dr Hill said looking east across the ocean is the best bet. In Melbourne, Williamstown Esplanade looking towards the city will make an excellent vantage point. In Sydney, Manly or Bondi Beach or anywhere along the eastern coastline will be ideal.
Will I need special equipment?
Good news, amateur skywatchers! No fancy gear is required. In fact, a full moon or a supermoon is the worst time to look through a telescope because the moon is too bright. The only equipment you might want with you on November 14 is a decent camera.
Will the skies be clear or cloudy?
Bureau of  Meteorology senior forecaster Rod Dickson said cloud cover could obstruct the view, although it didn't appear the skies would be "fully overcast". And with evening temperatures hovering around 13 degrees, you will need a jacket.
![A supermoon, like this one from 2014, will rise on November 14.](/web/20161115232653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/7/8/e/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsghdv.png/1479090814169.jpg)
What am I looking at?
Keen-eyed observers will be able to pick out lunar landmarks. The maria, the moon's low-lying seas, are the darker patches. Apollo 11's famous landing site is on the easterly edge of the Sea of Tranquility. The Tycho crater and Copernicus crater are the lighter-coloured circles. Remember, too, that we see the moon "upside down" compared to those in the northern hemisphere. Â
![The moon in and around Melbourne.](/web/20161115232653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/n/z/5/b/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsghdv.png/1479109822683.jpg)
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20161115232653im_/http://www.smh.com.au/cqstatic/12z7v7/1411Supermoon729px.jpg)
If I miss it, can I see it again?
![A supermoon rises over Sydney Harbour in August 2014.](/web/20161115232653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/n/y/u/u/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsghdv.png/1479109974387.jpg)
Sure. If you want to skip an astronomical showstopper on this scale, you can see another one ... on November 25, 2034. But there will be another supermoon next month, albeit not at perigee. December's supermoon will occur on the 14th, when the moon's orbit will place it 360,390 kilometres from Earth – 3837 kilometres further away from us than November's supermoon.
What is a supermoon anyway?
A supermoon occurs when you have a combination of two things: a full moon and the moon at perigee – the point in its orbit when it is approaching Earth at its closest. On November 14, this will bring the moon 50,000 kilometres closer to Earth.
Why is this one so special?
This isn't just any supermoon. This monster will appear up to 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than an average full moon when it travels across the night sky on November 14. It's the biggest one is almost 70 years. That's pretty special. This is because the moon is, astronomically speaking, close to Earth at a mere 356,553 kilometres away. It'll be 18 years until it's this close to us again.