Look up to the sky tonight! The final supermoon of the year will rise Friday, November 15th, 2024 and light up the sky. It is also known as the Super Beaver Moon. Read on to learn more about this special full moon.
What is a supermoon?
According to NASA, a supermoon occurs when “a full moon coincides with the Moon’s closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit, a point known as perigee.”
This makes the moon appear slightly brighter and larger than a regular moon –a supermoon.
Tonight’s supermoon marks the fourth and final one of 2024.
Why is it called a Super Beaver Moon?
November’s full moon is also called a ‘Super Beaver Moon‘. Like the Harvest Moon or the Strawberry Moon, these monikers coincide with that is happening in nature at that time.
Specifically, November is an active time of the year for beavers. Here is when they are gathering food for winter, building dams and preparing for the colder months ahead.
Additionally, another reason it is called a Super Beaver Moon, is because beavers would have been hunted for fur around this time of year as well. Tonight’s moon is sometimes referred to as the Freezing Moon or the Frost Moon to signify the colder months ahead that are fast-approaching.
How can I see the moon tonight?
Tonight’s Super Beaver Moon will rise at 4:20 p.m. ET to illuminate Philly skies. Because the moon will appear much larger and brighter than a usual full moon, it is visible to the naked eye. Just how well you can see the moon depends also on cloud coverage in the night sky.
For many people, catching a glimpse of a supermoon is an opportunity to appreciate nature. While for others, super moons can have great spiritual meaning.
You can track moonset and moonrise times by visiting Time And Date.