November is a great month for sky lovers. trio of meteor showers and the return of the winter constellations of the northern hemisphere. This week also features the second of four supermoons in a row. This month's supermoon will occur on November 4-5, and November's beaver moon is special because it will be the brightest full moon of 2025.
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In addition to being a supermoon, the November full moon is also known as the beaver moon. There is some debate as to why it was named this way. Some believe that in the old days this was the best time of year to set beaver traps and obtain pelts for winter clothing. Others believe this is the busiest time of year for beavers, who are now stocking their lodges with supplies for the coming winter.
The brightest supermoon: when is the best time to see it?
The Moon will reach peak illumination at 8:19 a.m. ET on November 5, making the evening of November 4 and the morning of November 5 the best times to view the Moon.
Because the moon's phases change slowly, the moon will appear nearly full for almost a week. If you can't see the full moon on its best night due to weather or other reasons, you can still see a mostly full moon anytime between November 3rd and November 8th.
During these days, the Moon will be noticeably brighter in the night sky compared to any other full moon in 2025. The reason for this is the elliptical orbit of the Moon. Because it's not a perfect circle, the Moon's 27.3-day journey around the Earth brings it closer to us on some days, a phenomenon known as perigee. If there is a full moon during this time, it is called a “perigee full moon,” which you may know better as a supermoon.
Not all supermoons are the same, and November will be a little more special than others. According to Farmer's AlmanacThe Beaver Moon will be just 221,817 miles from Earth, making it the closest full moon of the year. This means that it will be the largest and brightest of the year.
In practice, the differences are quite minor and would likely not be visible to the naked eye when compared to other supermoons. A supermoon is only 7% larger than a regular full moon. According to at NASAThe biggest difference is seen when comparing a supermoon to a micromoon: the supermoon will be about 14% larger and 30% brighter. So, if you notice that your backyard patio is lit up more than usual, it's because of the supermoon.
Additionally, due to the Moon's orbit, there will also be a micronew moon in November, meaning the Moon will be as far away from Earth as possible – a phenomenon known as apogee. The November new moon will occur on November 20th, but you won't be able to see it.
