Tonight’s full moon – known as the “Beaver Moon” – is the last “Supermoon” we will see until late 2025.
“Supermoon” is a title given to a moon that’s full at the part of its orbit that’s closest to Earth. According to CBS News, the moon’s distance from the Earth is typically between 221,457 – 252-712 miles. During tonight’s supermoon, it will be about 224,385 miles from Earth.
At its closest points, NASA said a supermoon can appear up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year which occurs when it’s farthest from Earth in its orbit. Tonight’s moon will appear 6.2% bigger and 12.8% brighter than 2024′s average full moon.
Friday’s moon will reach official fullness Friday, Nov. 15 at 4:29 p.m. EST (3:29 p.m. CST) but will look full through Saturday. November’s full moon is the last of four consecutive supermoons in 2024, following August’s Blue Moon, September’s Harvest Moon and October’s Harvest Moon. It’s the last supermoon until October 7, 2025 followed by two others on Nov. 5 and Dec. 4, 2025.
Beaver Moon
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the Beaver Moon gets its name from the time of year when beavers take shelter in their lodges, having laid up sufficient food stores up for the long winter ahead. It was also the season early North American fur traders set traps for winter-ready pelts.
Other names for November moons are the Digging or Scratching Moon, the Deer Rutting Moon, the Whitefish Moon, the Frost Moon and the Freezing Moon.