Overview
- The full Moon known as the Beaver Moon will reach fullness on Tuesday, November 24, with the Instituto Geográfico Nacional giving the instant as 15:53 peninsular Spanish time and EarthSky classifying it as a supermoon.
- A supermoon occurs when a full Moon coincides with lunar perigee, and this alignment can make the Moon appear up to about 7% larger and 16% brighter than an average full Moon.
- Observers in Spain, Mexico and Argentina can see the event with the naked eye if skies are clear, with Mexican outlets noting the phase will be visible from about 18:00 Central Time and reach its maximum during the early morning hours.
- The lunar timing also matters for meteor watching: the Leonids peak on the night of November 17–18 with the Moon in first quarter and setting before the maximum, which should leave relatively dark skies for that shower, and the Geminids in mid‑December are expected to have favorable moon conditions.
- No telescope is required to enjoy the supermoon but viewers should pick a dark, unobstructed site for better contrast, plan for local weather, and note that the December 24 full Moon is also identified as a supermoon this year.