November’s full moon, known as the “beaver moon,” will light up the sky this Friday, marking the last supermoon of the year.
As people watch the bright moon over the weekend, they might also catch a glimpse of the Leonid meteor shower, which will peak from Saturday night into early Sunday morning, according to the American Meteor Society.
What Is the Beaver Moon?
The beaver moon gets its name because this is the time of year when beavers prepare for winter by growing thicker fur and getting ready to hibernate. The moon will be at its fullest at 4:29 p.m. ET on Friday, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. However, you can still see the moon appearing full for about a day before and after this time, said Noah Petro, chief of NASA’s Planetary Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Laboratory.
“There is a specific moment when the moon is at its fullest,” Petro said. “But if the weather is bad or you are busy, you can still enjoy the full moon at other times — whether it’s a day before, later that night, or the next day.”
What Makes This a Supermoon?
A supermoon happens when the full moon is at its closest point to Earth, called the perigee, which makes it look slightly bigger and brighter, according to NASA. This November full moon is the fourth supermoon in a row this year, although it will be slightly farther away than October’s full moon, which was the closest one of 2024.
Even so, the beaver moon will still be a special sight. Petro suggests watching the moon as it rises above the horizon for a chance to see the “moon illusion.” At that time, the supermoon may look even larger than usual. Scientists aren’t entirely sure why this happens, but they think it has to do with how our brains process what we see, especially when the moon is compared to objects like trees or houses near the horizon.
Ongoing Lunar Exploration
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which has been collecting data since 2009, continues to help us learn more about the moon, Petro added.
“We are still mapping the moon and uncovering its secrets,” he said. “When you look at the moon, you are not just seeing a beautiful object in the sky — remember that there is also a small spacecraft up there, helping us learn more about the moon’s history.”
If the weather cooperates, people in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres will be able to see the beaver moon, and they might also catch a meteor from the Leonid meteor shower streaking across the sky.
How to Watch the Leonids
The Leonid meteor shower usually produces around 15 meteors per hour during its peak. However, the bright light from the full moon will make it harder to see the fainter meteors, so viewers might only see about five meteors per hour this weekend, said Robert Lunsford, fireball report coordinator for the American Meteor Society.
For the best chance of seeing a meteor, Lunsford suggests facing the eastern sky while keeping the moon out of your sight. Be patient, and you might spot a Leonid meteor shining brightly in the night.
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