Halloween might be over, but sky-watchers are in for a treat this week.
On Wednesday, November 5, the night sky will be illuminated with the biggest, brightest full moon of the year, also called the beaver moon. And it’s a supermoon, meaning it will be full at the same time it’s closest to Earth.
Here’s everything to know about this week’s sky-watching event.
What’s the best time to see the supermoon?
The best time to see a full moon typically is right after sunset, especially for a supermoon, when it appears biggest on the horizon, according to Live Science.
According to the Weather Channel, the best time to see the beaver moon is from dusk on Tuesday, November 4, through Thursday, November 6, based on clouds and visibility in your region.
In the U.S., prime time in the Northeast is forecast for Tuesday, November 4, and it’s Wednesday, November 5, for the Great Lakes region.
When will the supermoon be closest to Earth?
Per Astronomy, the beaver moon turns full at 8:19 a.m. ET Wednesday, when it is directly opposite the sun in the sky—but only for a moment, and the change won’t be visible to the naked eye.
The full moon reaches its closest distance to Earth in 2025, called the perigee, some nine hours after it turns full, on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. ET, at 221,726 miles away, according to Space.com.
During perigree, full moons appear 14% bigger and 30% brighter, according to NASA.
Why is this full moon called the beaver moon?
November’s full moon originally got its nickname, the beaver moon, due to the “heightened activity among beavers around November, building dams and stocking up on food before winter,” says the BBC’s Sky at Night Magazine.
What’s the next sky-watching event to look out for?
The beaver moon is the second of three supermoons, starting with October’s hunter’s moon and ending with December’s cold moon, per the BBC.
The December full moon gets its name as the month marks the beginning of the coldest time of year. This full supermoon will take place on Thursday, December 4.