2025's Beaver Moon: See the year's largest, most radiant supermoon!

The full moon appearing above Cape D’Aguilar, Hong Kong.(Image credit: Guang Cao through Getty Images)

Stargazers will witness the largest and most radiant full moon of the year in the upcoming week. Reaching fullness at 8:19 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 5, the Beaver Moon is the second in a trio of successive supermoons to end 2025.

The year’s most prominent supermoon will reside roughly 221,818 miles (356,980 kilometers) from our planet, marking the nearest approach of any full moon this year, as per AstroPixels. This positions it as the closest full moon observed since February 2019.

Beaver Moon is the familiar term applied to November’s full moon in North America. It gains its moniker from the period when nocturnal beavers in the northeastern U.S. and Canada are actively constructing their winter shelters under the gleam of the full moon, according to Timeanddate. Occasionally, it’s also known as the Frost Moon, Snow Moon, Trading Moon, Mourning Moon, or Darkest Depths Moon. The Anishinaabeg people designate November’s moon as Baashkaakodin Giizis, which translates to the Freezing Moon, as noted by the Center for Native American Studies.

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Even though the moon will reach its fullest officially on Wednesday, the optimal views will occur on Thursday, Nov. 6. A full moon generally exhibits its finest appearance as it emerges on the eastern skyline during early twilight, shortly after sunset. This holds even more weight for a supermoon, as that’s when it seems exceptionally sizeable on the horizon. To observe any full moon — particularly a supermoon — at its most stunning, it’s crucial to ascertain the precise time of moonrise for your specific location.

On Nov. 6, the moon will be discernible within the Taurus constellation, situated very near the Pleiades, a stellar open cluster. The moon will also shine brightly and completely on Tuesday (Nov. 4).

Jamie CarterSocial Links NavigationLive Science contributor

Jamie Carter serves as a freelance reporter and frequent Live Science contributor based in Cardiff, U.K. He is the author of A Stargazing Program For Beginners and lectures on astronomy and the natural world. Jamie consistently contributes to Space.com, TechRadar.com, Forbes Science, BBC Wildlife magazine and Scientific American, and numerous others. He curates WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com.

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