More a popular term than a scientific one, a supermoon occurs when a full lunar phase syncs up with an especially close swing around Earth. This usually happens only three or four times a year and consecutively, given the moon’s constantly shifting, oval-shaped orbit.

The supermoon rises after the peak of the Taurid meteor shower and before the Leonids are most active. RELATED: How much bigger i

The supermoon rises after the peak of the Taurid meteor shower and before the Leonids are most active. Last month’s supermoon was 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) closer, making it the year's closest. The series started in August.

The lunar phase calendar year is wrapping up with November’s sky closing out the year’s last supermoon, part of a series that began in August. Supermoons in the lunar calendar are slightly closer to Earth than the average full moon,