The final supermoon of the year is about to happen. And it will hide something much more beautiful.

Over the next couple of nights, the moon will be closer to Earth and so brighter than it usually is. That's normally extraordinary – but it is the third supermoon in as many months, and it won't be as close as it was in November until 2034.

But this month's supermoon is hiding something just as beautiful. The peak of the moon's orbit – which is what makes it appear bigger, because it moves closer to the Earth – is also the peak of the Geminid meteor shower, meaning that one of the highlights of the astronomical calendar will be hidden.

9 best images of the 2016 supermoon Show all 9 1 /9 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon The moon rises over the O2 Arena in south-east London PA 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon A commerical jet flies in front of the moon on its approach to Heathrow airport in west London on November 13, 2016. AFP/Getty Images 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon A super moon rises over the Statue of Freedom on the Capitol dome in Washington, DC November 13, 2016. AFP 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon The "supermoon", the closest the moon comes to Earth since 1948, rises over the Power and Light building in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., November 13, 2016 Reuters 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon A woman sits on the rooftop terrace of a house during the "supermoon" in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, November 13, 2016 Reuters 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon The moon rises behind the eagle sculpture high atop LeVeque Tower in Columbus, Ohio, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016 AP 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon The moon rises beyond the Arch in St. Louis as seen from the Compton Hill Water Tower on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016 AP 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon The moon rises behind Reunion Tower in downtown Dallas, Sunday evening, Nov. 13, 2016. AP 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon The moon rises over the harbor of the costal town of Lambert's Bay, South Africa, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016 AP

The Geminid meteor shower runs from 4 December to 16 December. But it hits its most bright and visible peak on the nights of 13 and 14 December, which are the same days that the moon will be at its fullest and closest.

Usually, the Geminids are "one of the best and most reliable of the annual meteor showers", according to Nasa. But this year it might be ruined.

"Bright moonlight will reduce the visibility of faint meteors five to ten fold, transforming the usually fantastic Geminids into an astronomical footnote," according to the space agency. "Sky watchers will be lucky to see a dozen Geminids per hour when the shower peaks.

"Oh well, at least the moon will be remarkable."