Get ready for the last supermoon of the year as it will be making its appearance in mid-November. November's full moon, also known as the Beaver Moon, is the last of four consecutive supermoons occurring in 2024, following August's Blue Moon, September's Harvest Moon, and October's Hunter's Moon.
The Beaver Moon will reach peak illumination at 4:28 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, crossing the sky beside the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the "Seven Sisters," located in the Taurus constellation. It's truly going to be a sight to behold!
But what exactly is a supermoon? According to NASA, it occurs when a full or new moon aligns with the closest point of the moon's orbit to Earth. This alignment can cause the moon to appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual, making for quite the stunning night sky.
The name 'Beaver Moon' has its roots from the Old Farmer's Almanac, referring to the time of year when beavers prepare for winter and begin to take shelter in their lodges. Historically, this full moon also coincided with the beaver trapping season for the North American fur trade, marking it as significant across various cultures.
For those eager to experience more than just the supermoon during November, there's also the Taurids meteor shower peaking on the evenings of Nov. 8-9, which can produce several meteors per hour. Following closely, the Leonids meteor shower will peak on Nov. 17 and 18, with about 10-15 meteors visible per hour after midnight.
Not to be outdone, several planets will also be making their presence known on the night of the full moon. Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars can all be spotted. Mercury will be low on the southwestern horizon and might present some challenges for those without clear views, but Venus will be bright and distinctly visible above it as the sun sets. Saturn will take up residence high in the southern sky, with Jupiter rising about an hour and a half after the full moon, located below and to the left of it. Meanwhile, the reddish-hued Mars will be visible within the depths of the Cancer constellation.
After the Beaver Moon, the next full moon of the year will emerge on Dec. 15, dubbed the Cold Moon. For those astronomers and moon watchers, November is shaping up to be particularly exciting as we wind down the year with these celestial events.
This article originally appeared on the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, with contributions from Jenna Prestininzi, and reporting from Emily Barnes, who focuses on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team.
