Stargazers, mark your calendars. November’s full moon, known as the Beaver Moon, will appear on Thursday night, bringing the last supermoon of 2024. This special event will be visible on November 15 and is expected to light up the night sky brighter and bigger than a typical full moon.
The Beaver Moon, a name rooted in the traditions of Native American tribes, reflects the time of year when beavers prepare for winter by building their dams and storing food. According to Farmer’s Almanac, other names for this moon include the Frost Moon, Freezing Moon, and Digging Moon, with each title reflecting different cultural perspectives on the seasonal shift.
A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit brings it closer to Earth than usual. In this case, the moon will be about 225,000 miles away, making it appear up to 30% brighter and 14% larger than average. Though this difference may be subtle to casual observers, it is still a stunning sight in the night sky.
This will be the fourth supermoon of the year, closing out a series that began in August. Although last month’s Hunter’s Moon was even closer to Earth, this month’s Beaver Moon promises to be equally captivating. As a bonus, it follows the recent peak of the Taurid meteor shower and precedes the Leonid meteor shower, making this a perfect time for skywatchers to head outside and enjoy the view.
After this, the next supermoons won’t appear until 2025, when a trio of them will brighten the skies in October, November, and December.
Get ready to take a few minutes on Thursday night to appreciate the brilliance of November’s supermoon — it’s the last of its kind for a while.
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