It’s a busy week for stargazers, as both the Beaver Moon and the Taurid meteor shower are expected to peak later this week. The Beaver Moon, known as the November Full Moon, is also the second of three supermoons in a row this year, meaning it should be even bigger and brighter than usual. Peaking around the same time as this month’s supermoon is the Taurid meteor shower, which includes both the South Taurus and the North Taurus. Southern Taurids, which are active in the fall months, are known for their fireballs.
Here’s what stargazers should know ahead of the Beaver Moon and Taurid Meteor Shower.
What is the Beaver Moon?
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the beaver moon gets its name from folklore associated with Native American tribes, colonial Americans and Europeans. The Beaver Moon is the time of year when beavers are holed up in their dens for the long winter. During the North American fur trade, according to the almanac, it was also a time to hunt beavers for their thick fur.
According to NASA, November’s full moon will be a supermoon. The Beaver Moon is also the second of three supermoons in a row, according to the Weather Channel.
Beaver Moon over New York in 2024 November 15 (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
A supermoon occurs when the full moon coincides with the moon closest to Earth in its orbit. This will make the moon appear slightly larger and brighter than usual. At its closest point, November’s full moon will be 221,817 miles from Earth, making it the closest supermoon of the year.
What is the Taurid Meteor Shower?
According to Scientific American, the Taurid meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through the debris left behind by Comet 2P/Encke. The North and South Taurids, made up of two separate debris streams in the same meteor shower, are particularly visible from late October to early November when they overlap, according to EarthSky.
A view of a meteor streaking over the Trona Pinnacles near Death Valley, California, during the annual Perseid meteor shower in 2019. in August (Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images)
When is the best time to see the beaver moon?
The full moon is expected to peak at 8:19 a.m. on Wednesday, November 5. ET on the Weather Channel. This year’s beaver moon, the forecaster added, will also be the closest full moon we’ve seen since 2019, meaning it will appear larger and brighter to the naked eye than previous full moons.
The moon will still appear bright on November 4th and 5th. at night, according to USA Today. The supermoon will also appear full a few days after it peaks.
When is the biggest Taurid meteor shower and what can I expect?
According to EarthSky, the Southern Taurids are expected to peak early Wednesday, November 5, between midnight and 2 a.m.
The Taurid fireball recorded by NASA’s All Sky Fireball Network station in Tullahoma, Tenn., in 2014. (NASA/AP)
What’s the best way to see the Taurid meteor shower? Beaver moon?
Finding a spot outside, away from city lights, only optimizes your chances of catching the Taurid meteor shower after midnight. Allow your eyes to adjust to the dark for at least 30 minutes. But the meteor shower may not be as visible as stargazers hope: The full moon, which is also due on November 5, may outshine them.
A beaver moon rises behind the Empire State Building in New York in 2024. November 15 (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
In the meantime, the best way to view the Beaver Moon is to find an unobstructed, elevated spot in an open field with a clear view of the eastern horizon. Your eyes are good enough to see the full moon in November, but binoculars are recommended for an even closer look.