Earth's natural satellite will look bigger and more beautiful in the sky next week, and this full moon is known as the “Beaver Supermoon” in the US, the second of three consecutive supermoons this year.
The astronomical event will take place on Wednesday, November 5. Supermoons are essentially full moons that appear bigger and brighter than normal, Sky News writes.
They occur because the Moon does not orbit the Earth in a perfectly circular path.
Moving in an oval orbit around the planet, the closest point of the Moon to the Earth is called perigee, and the farthest is called apogee. The “overlap” between the full moon phase and its passage through perigee is popularly referred to as the “supermoon”, according to Rai News.
The Beaver Supermoon occurs as close as possible to its orbit, Earth, at a distance of about 356,500 kilometers, compared to an average distance of just over 384,000 km, which is why it will appear larger and brighter to those viewing it from Earth.
Weather permitting, Earth's natural satellite will appear just over 7 percent larger and slightly brighter than a typical full Moon.
What is the Beaver Supermoon
Wednesday's full moon is called the “Beaver Supermoon” in the US because beavers are more active around this time and dig and repair or prepare their dens for hibernation and sometimes do so by moonlight.
The term “supermoon” is not an astronomical one and was first used in 1979, when astrologer Richard Nolle decided to use it to describe the phenomenon, which has since been picked up by NASA and the media.
There are many cute names in American tradition for the Full Moon of the various months of the year: “Strawberry Moon,” “Pink Moon,” or “Flower Moon,” but the Moon does not turn red, pink, or the color of flowers, as the names suggest. There is also the Harvest Moon (Harvest Moon, in September), but also the Hunter Moon (the hunter's month).
Professor Sara Russell, a researcher at the Natural History Museum in London, told Sky News that it is expected to be the “biggest” supermoon this year, after October's full moon and ahead of the “Cold Moon”, which will be visible on December 4, 2025, the last of the three supermoons in 2025.
Annually, there are 3-4 supermoons and for specialists it is not an unusual event.
“It's not very unusual,” explained Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
Full moon in November
Even so, the event is a good opportunity to admire Earth's natural satellite in the context of an increasingly neglected, inaccessible and forgotten sky, said astrophysicist Gianluca Masi.
“The supermoon is actually a good excuse to encourage the general public to rediscover the sky, even in cities that are known to be unfavorable for stargazing due to light pollution,” said the astrophysicist, quoted by Rai News.
Although the moon will officially be full on Wednesday, the best time for observations will be the following evening, Thursday, Nov. 6, according to Science and Technology magazine. The moon will also appear bright and full on Tuesday, November 4.
In Romania, the star will reach the full moon phase on Wednesday, November 5, exactly at 15:19 (Romanian time), according to the data published by the “Amiral Vasile Urseanu” Astronomical Observatory.
A full moon in the middle of the afternoon may seem strange, but astronomers predict the phases of the moon based on its orbital positions, not its visibility.
The Beaver Supermoon can be seen without special equipment
According to the “Amiral Vasile Urseanu” Astronomical Observatory, although most people believe that the Moon is only visible at night, the star is visible as much during the day as when it is dark.
“All that matters is its position with respect to the Sun. If the Moon is on the opposite side of the Sun, it can be seen all night, rising at sunset. If it is 90° from the Sun, it can be seen during the day and evening. If it is 270° from the Sun, it can be seen during the last half of the night and the first half of the day, and if it is right next to the Sun, it is obviously in the sky with it,” say the specialists.
That's why the full moon will be visible a few nights before and after the 5th. How best to observe the Beaver Supermoon?
You won't need a telescope or other specialized equipment to see the phenomenon, and binoculars will be more than enough if you want to see the star up close.
Dr Noelia Noel, senior lecturer in astrophysics at the University of Surrey, said the best way to see the Beaver Supermoon is to go outside shortly after sunset and look east.
