biggest Supermoon in Five Years to Light Up Skies Thisโฃ Week
Skywatchers are in for a treat this week as the full “beaver moon” rises, appearing asโค the largest and brightest supermoon since February 19, โฃ2019. The lunar spectacle will be especially striking on Thursday, Novemberโ 6th, offering โa breathtaking view for those in North America and beyond.
Full moon โnames vary across culturesโ and seasons, โคwith NovemberS full moon traditionally known as the hunter’s, frosty, or โขbeaver moon, according to EarthSky. However, this month’s full moon is special due โto its proximity to Earth – a phenomenon known as a supermoon. A supermoon occurs when a โขfull moon coincides โwith the moon’s closest approachโฃ to Earth in โits orbit, called perigee.โค
This beaver โฃmoon isโ the second supermoon of 2025โข and โขwill be 100%-lit just nine hours after reaching perigee.โ Defined as being 10% closer than โคthe average distance โfrom Earth, the moon’s โaverage distance isโ 238,900 โขmilesโค (384,472 km). This particular supermoon will be โa mere 221,817 miles (356,980 kilometers) โคaway, making โit the closest full moon โof the year. for comparison, the February โ2019โค supermoon was 221,681 miles (356,761 kilometers)โข distant, and a “Christmas Supermoon” on December 24, โ2026, will come even closerโ at 221,611 miles (356,649 kilometers).
Toโข witness the full beaver moon atโ its best,โค observersโข should seek an elevated location with a clear view of the eastern horizon. the moon appears most impressive shortlyโฃ after rising,โ around dusk. Here are someโข sample moonrise times:
* โค New york: moonrise at 5:19 p.m. EST onโ Thursday, Nov. 6 (sunset โat 4:47โค p.m.EST)
* Los Angeles: moonrise at 4:57 p.m. PST on Thursday, Nov.6 (sunset at 4:56 p.m. PST)
*โข London: moonrise atโข 5:06 p.m.GMT โขon Friday, Nov.โ 7 (sunset at 4:24 p.m. GMT)
Consult a moonrise calculator for precise timings based on your location.