November Supermoon Will Be Closest to Earth This Year
The closest supermoon of the year happens Wednesday, November 5. The moon will be 221,817 miles from Earth. That's the nearest it'll get all year.
It's called the Beaver Moon and it'll look around 30% brighter and up to 14% larger than usual. Not a massive difference but certainly noticeable.
The timing's unfortunate for meteor watchers. The supermoon happens the night after the Southern Taurids meteor shower peaks. The bright moon will wash out most of the meteors. You can't have both.
When to Look
Peak happens Wednesday, November 5, at 8:19 a.m. ET. That's after sunrise for most of the country, so you won't catch the exact peak moment.
That doesn't really matter though. The moon will look great Tuesday night, November 4, and Wednesday night, November 5. It'll also look full for several days after. Moon peaks aren't like eclipses where timing matters. Just go outside on Tuesday or Wednesday night and look up.
What Supermoon Means
The moon's orbit brought it closer to Earth than usual. Scientists call that perigee. Because it's closer, it appears 30% brighter and up to 14% bigger.
You're not going to look up and gasp at how enormous it is. But if you're paying attention, you'll notice it's brighter and slightly larger than normal.
Three Supermoons in 2025
October already had one. December 4 gets another. November's is the closest though.
This month the moon is 221,817 miles from Earth. In December it'll be 221,965 miles. October was 224,600 miles.
November wins. If you're only looking up for one supermoon this year, make it this one.
Weather Could be a Problem
The National Weather Service is predicting heavy clouds in some areas between November 5 at 7 p.m. ET and November 6 at 1 a.m. ET.
Northeast, Pacific Northwest, and most of California might get clouds blocking the view. Check your forecast. Weather predictions change. You might get lucky with a break. If not, the moon will still look full for days after peak.
Why Beaver Moon?
Moon names come from Native American tribes, Colonial Americans, and European folklore. The Beaver Moon gets its name because this is when beavers settle into their lodges for winter.
Also, it’s when fur traders trapped beavers for pelts. Less cute but that's part of history.
Other names for November's moon - Digging Moon, Scratching Moon, Deer Rutting Moon, Whitefish Moon, Frost Moon, or Freezing Moon. It depends on the tradition.
What You'll See
The moon will look bigger and brighter than normal. Not dramatically but noticeably.
It’s a good opportunity for moon photos if you're into that. The extra brightness helps with composition.
Find a spot away from bright lights if you can. Darker surroundings make the moon look more dramatic.
Bad for Meteor Watching
The Southern Taurids meteor shower peaks the night before. Under normal dark sky conditions, it’s a decent meteor shower to witness. But the bright supermoon washes most of them out.
You might spot a few really bright fireballs. Don't count on it though. The moon's too bright for good meteor viewing this week.
No Equipment Needed
Just go outside and look up. The moon will be the brightest thing in the sky.
Binoculars or a telescope give you a better view of surface details and craters. But even without them, the supermoon is worth seeing.
December Has One More
One more supermoon happens December 4. Then nothing until 2026. But December's will be slightly farther from Earth than November's.
If you miss this one because of weather, you get another chance in December. But November's is the best in terms of how close the moon gets to Earth.
Weather permitting, step outside Tuesday or Wednesday night. The moon will be 221,817 miles away, brighter and bigger than usual. For moon lovers, star gazers, and night watchers, it is certainly worth a look.
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