Did you know all full moons have names? A full moon occurs when the moon is completely illuminated by the sun without any shadow falling on it from Earth. There are normally 12 full moons a year, each with its own name.
However, the lunar cycle is 29.5 days so roughly every two and a half years there is a 13th full moon.
Beaver Moon is a name for the full moon that appears in November.
When can I see the Beaver Moon?
The Beaver Moon will reach peak illumination at about 9:25pm on Friday 15 November 2024 – the Moon will appear full for about three days around this time.
It will be the fourth and final supermoon of the year.
Supermoons happen when the Moon is closest to the Earth, appearing bigger and brighter than normal – up to 15% brighter and 30% bigger than regular full Moons.
Why is it called the Beaver Moon?
The name Beaver Moon is thought to originate from native North Americans and coincides with when they noticed beavers retreating to their lodges for the winter – and when they hunted beavers for their lustrous winter fur. Beavers are the national animal of Canada.
An alternative name for the Beaver Moon is the Frost Moon. It is also referred to as the Mourning Moon when it is the last full moon before the winter solstice (21, 22 or 23 December). This doesn't apply this year, because there'll be another full moon on 15 December.
The Beaver Moon follows October's Hunter's Moon, while in December the Cold Moon graces the night skies.
Where is the best place to watch it?
For the best experience, head to an open, rural area with minimal light pollution. The countryside or coast are perfect locations for watching the moon rise above the horizon.
More about the night sky
