This year has been stellar in terms of celestial events, with five new supermoons and four full supermoons, not to mention several meteor showers and the brightest comet of the year. Luckily, the year’s not over yet and we hope you’re ready for more, because the last supermoon of the year is coming this week and you won’t get another chance to see one until late 2025! Here’s all you need to know about how to see the “Beaver Moon”, which marks the end of the spring, in all its splendour:
What is a supermoon?
A supermoon happens when perigee or, in layman’s terms, the moon’s closest point to Earth in a month, coincides with the new or full phase of the moon. When it’s the latter, it means that we get treated to a slightly bigger and noticeably brighter full moon.
Why “Beaver Moon”?
The name was given by North American first nations people, who observed increased activity in beavers around this time of year, as they prepared their dams and burrows for hibernation before the winter swept in. It is also known as the Frosty Moon or the Digging Moon, for the same reason.
When to see the Beaver Moon
The Beaver Moon will light up the skies in Australia the night of November 15, with its peak illumination set to occur just as the sky turns dark, but any time during that night will allow you to bask in its beams, no equipment needed.
Where to see the Beaver Moon?
Thanks to the supermoon’s brightness, you should be able to see it from almost anywhere, but it might be a bit trickier than usual if it’s cloudy.
And, of course, if you’re looking for the best viewing experience, we recommend heading out to a dark, clear location like the Mt Coot-tha Summit Lookout — although the light pollution coming from the city might make it a bit difficult — or, if you don’t mind a bit of a longer drive, places like Wild Horse Mountain and Lake Moogerah offer expansive views of the night sky.
To calculate sunrise and moonrise times in your location and make sure you’re catching it at its best, head here.
When is the next supermoon?
You won’t want to miss the Beaver Moon because it’s the last one we’ll see until late next year. The 2025 supermoons will rise on the following dates:
- October 7 — Hunter’s Moon
- November 5 — Beaver Moon
- December 4 — Cold Moon