Beaver Supermoon Tonight: How to Witness Stunning Lunar Finale

The Moon has dazzled us with a series of incredible celestial events this year, and now the grand finale is here: the Beaver Moon, 2024’s last supermoon

But what exactly is a supermoon? How can you catch it at its best? And what’s the connection to beavers? Whether you're watching from your backyard or venturing to a secluded spot for the clearest view, here's everything you need to know to fully enjoy this spectacular lunar event.

In the UK, US, and across the globe, the full Beaver Supermoon will be visible on November 15, 2024. The Moon will appear full for several nights surrounding this date.

Figure 1. Beaver Supermoon Tonight.

"Technically, the full Moon happens at a precise moment – down to the second! – when the Moon is directly opposite the Sun in the sky," explains Dr. Darren Baskill, an astronomer and astrophotographer at the University of Sussex. Figure 1 shows Beaver Supermoon Tonight.

"However, to the naked eye, the Moon will look full, or nearly full, for two or three days before and after this exact moment."

In the UK, the Moon will rise around 3:30 PM local time. In Los Angeles, expect moonrise at 3:30 PM local time, while in New York, it will be at 4:29 PM Eastern Standard Time. For the best view, try to catch it just after sunset or just before sunrise. This is when the Moon appears largest and most dramatic against the horizon,” advises Shyam Balaji, a researcher in Astro particle physics and cosmology at King’s College London.

What’s the Reason Behind the Name "Beaver Moon"?

November's supermoon is named after beavers because the animals are more active and visible during this time of year.

As winter approaches, beavers spend these months preparing for the cold, often building food stores in case they become trapped in the frozen ponds where they live.

What Makes a Supermoon Occur?

SDuring a supermoon, the lunar surface appears 7% larger and 15% brighter in the sky compared to a typical full Moon. This happens because the Moon is closer to Earth than usual (though still around 363,700 km or 226,000 miles away)."

Why does this happen? The Moon orbits Earth in an elliptical (oval) shape, meaning there are points where it is closer (called perigee) and points where it is farther away (called apogee). When a full Moon coincides with perigee, it creates a supermoon. Since the timing of full Moons can align with perigee multiple times, we often witness consecutive supermoons.

In contrast, a micromoon occurs when the Moon is at apogee, appearing smaller and dimmer than a typical full Moon. The difference in size between a supermoon and a micromoon is noticeable, with a supermoon being significantly larger and brighter.

This happens because, although a full Moon occurs roughly every 29.5 days, the Moon actually takes about 27.3 days to complete its orbit around Earth. This difference in timing means that the favorable alignment—where the Moon reaches perigee near a full Moon—can occur over several consecutive months, as the cycle gradually shifts out of sync.

In essence, the Moon's elliptical orbit causes these alignments to shift gradually, which is why we sometimes witness multiple supermoons in a row.

"The gravitational forces from Earth, the Sun, and other planets affect the Moon's orbit, leading to these variations. This is why we occasionally experience the spectacular sight of a supermoon," explained Balaji.Specifically, supermoons occur when the Moon is at its fullest during the lunar cycle and reaches its closest point to Earth in its orbit.

Where is the Best Spot to View the Beaver Supermoon?

Getting away from the city and going somewhere with less light pollution will give you the best view.

But to get a truly impressive spectacle, you can head to the coast to see how the supermoon influences the tides.

“When the Moon is at its closest point to Earth (perigee) and is also full, it's gravitational pullon Earth's oceans is stronger,” said Balaji.

“You can expect to see more extreme tidal variations. This means higher high tides and lower low tides than normal.”

Source: Science Focus

Cite this article:

Priyadharshini S(2024), Beaver Supermoon Tonight: How to Witness Stunning Lunar Finale, pp. 142