Final Supermoon of 2024: Don’t miss the Beaver Moon over Park City on November 15

Full moon. Photo: NASA // Bill Ingalls

PARK CITY, UT — The next Full Moon will take place on November 15, 2024, at 21:29 GMT. Known as the Beaver Moon, this event holds special significance as it may also be classified as the final Supermoon of the year.

According to The Farmer’s Almanac, the name “Beaver Moon” is rooted in tradition. November marks a time when beavers prepare for the cold by building dams and stocking food in their lodges, a behavior that Native Americans observed and honored by naming the Full Moon after these industrious animals. Another possible origin is tied to hunting practices, as this was the season when hunters set beaver traps to gather fur before winter. The Farmer’s Almanac also shares that this year, the Beaver Moon will reside in the constellation Aries, with the Pleiades star cluster visible nearby in areas with dark skies.

Fred Espenak, a former NASA astrophysicist and recognized authority on lunar phenomena, has noted that the November Full Moon qualifies as a Supermoon.

A Supermoon occurs when a Full Moon coincides with the Moon’s perigee—the closest point to Earth in its orbit. While the apparent size difference may be subtle to the naked eye, a Supermoon appears approximately 7% larger and 16% brighter than a typical Full Moon.

Skywatchers across the globe are invited to witness this celestial event and its associated phenomena. Those with clear, dark skies can enhance their experience by observing nearby celestial features, such as the Pleiades, adding a stellar backdrop to November’s Beaver Moon.

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