This Friday, the night sky will be illuminated by a full Beaver Moon that just happens to be the last supermoon of 2024. If that weren’t enough, it also happens to coincide with the peak of the Leonid meteor shower, making for a rare opportunity for sky-watchers to spot both displays together.
What Makes the Beaver Moon the Final Supermoon of 2024?
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, this Beaver Moon will peak at 4:29 p.m. ET on Friday, November 15. It’ll also appear to the naked eye as full on Thursday and Saturday nights, though. Called the Beaver Moon because this time of year is when beavers prepare for hibernation, a full moon will shine bright in the sky, completely mesmerizing.
What makes this moon particularly special is that it’s a supermoon – meaning that it coincides with the moon’s perigee or its closest approach to Earth in its orbit. This makes the moon appear slightly larger and brighter than usual. Although the moon will be a bit farther away from Earth than October’s record-breaking supermoon, it’ll still be a fabulous sight.
How Can You Get the Best View of the Beaver Moon?
NASA’s Noah Petro recommends viewing it as it rises to get the best view. Because of an optical illusion, in which our brain gauges the size of the moon against objects on the horizon when the moon is near the horizon, it may appear even bigger. Scientists aren’t completely sure why it happens, but that’s often referred to as the “moon illusion.”
If you want to get more out of your moon gazing, keep in mind that active space missions – like NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter-are still sending back new data about the moon and its history.
What Can You Expect from the Leonid Meteor Shower?
If the Beaver Moon wasn’t enough, the Leonid meteor shower will peak on Saturday night into Sunday, offering a view of as many as 15 meteors per hour. The brightness of the full moon will likely make many of the faint meteors tough to spot, though, and sky-gazers will probably see only about five meteors per hour.
To see them best, Robert Lunsford with the American Meteor Society says to face east and look midway up in the sky, away from the moon. The best time to see the shower will be late into the night since more meteors are visible before dawn.
What Are the Upcoming Celestial Events to Watch For?
Miss the Leonids? Not to worry, as more meteor showers are coming. The Geminid meteor shower peaks on December 12-13, followed by the Ursid meteor shower on December 21-22.f
