It is the last and final supermoon of 2024, known as the Beaver Moon, and will brighten up the night skies this Friday, November 15. Peaking at its brightest in 4:29 Eastern Time (21:29 GMT), it has gone predictably bright and blessed for viewing. The Leonid meteor shower will shine in the sky with the Beaver Moon, while the Pleiades star cluster will offer a rare cosmic display.
What is a Supermoon?
A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the point in its orbit when it is nearest Earth. It is a full moon on steroids because the moon appears bigger and brighter than usual. As defined by NASA, a full moon is the point at which Earth, moon, and sun will align, making the sun fully illuminate the moon. The term “supermoon” was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979.
The Beaver Moon was the last supermoon of the year and got its name from the trapping tradition of beavers for their pelt during this time of year. Beyond its connection to beavers, the Beaver Moon is also known as the Mourning Moon – the final full moon before the winter solstice – and being Frost and Freezing Moons due to the snow that fell early in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Beaver Moon will be at 361,867 km or 225,000 miles from Earth, and is due to reach full phase on Friday.
When and Where to See the Last Supermoon of 2024?
Everywhere in the world can see the Beaver Moon, although peak viewing times differ. It is the maximum illumination of 20th in India while in London will be visible at 9:29 pm local time on Friday. In the Middle East it will light up the Skies on Saturday at 00:29 GMT.
More Celestial Sightings
The Leonid meteor shower, best known for fast-moving meteors, also reaches its peak this weekend. Full moon falls on the same day that the Pleiades star cluster – a single small swarm containing more than 1,000 stars in constellation Taurus – passes across the sky.
NASA recommends viewing through binoculars with a magnification of at least 7x to achieve the best view.
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