Have you ever seen a Beaver Moon? The Beaver Moon is the name given to the full Moon in November, and in 2026 it will be slightly bigger and brighter than usual.
This full Moon rises just before sunset on 23/24 November and is visible all night long throughout the dark nights of late November.
Here we'll explore what the Beaver Moon is, how it got such a strange name and why some are calling this full Moon a Super Beaver Moon.
Beaver Moon explained
The name 'Beaver Moon' is one of many informal names given to the monthly full Moons.
Throughout the calendar year, each full Moon has a 'nickname' that reflects major changes or events occurring in nature during the month in question.
That's why December's full Moon is known as the Cold Moon, for example, and the June full Moon is known as the Strawberry Moon.
The term 'Beaver Moon' comes from different of cultures and societies that used the Moon as a calendar to track the course of the year.
During the month of November, beavers are particularly active as they prepare for winter, building dams and stocking up food.
So it makes sense that our ancestors might have marked this activity by naming November's full Moon after the furry creatures.
However, there is another reason why November's full Moon is known as the Beaver Moon, and that's because beavers were once extensively hunted for their fur.
In fact, the animals were hunted to extinction in the UK, but reintroduction efforts mean the animals have been making a comeback in recent years.
As is the case with every full Moon nickname, this full Moon won't look any different to any other full Moon of the year.
At least, not because it's a Beaver Moon, anyway. The November full Moon will technically be bigger and brighter because it's a so-called supermoon.
Supermoons explained
There are three supermoons visible in 2026, the first having been the Wolf Moon, way back in January.
That makes November's Beaver Moon the second supermoon of the year.
But what is a supermoon, and are they really anything to get excited about?
A supermoon is more accurately described as a perigee syzygy Moon.
Perigee means the Moon is at the closest point in its orbit to Earth.
Syzygy refers to three celestial bodies in alignment: in this case the Sun, Earth and the Moon.
So a supermoon is simply a full Moon that's a bit bigger and brighter than normal.
The Super Beaver Moon of 23/24 November 2026 will be technically bigger than a 'regular' full Moon, but in reality the difference is imperceptible to the naked eye.
Having said that, a full Moon - supermoon or not – is a beautiful spectacle to observe in the night sky.
Super Beaver Moon 2026 – quick facts
- The Super Beaver Moon will be visible in the east just after sunset on both 23 and 24 November.
- Get a clear eastern view and you'll see it rise above the horizon as the sky grows dark.
- The Beaver Moon will climb higher and be visible in the southeast around 22:00.
- By the time it's high in the sky on 23 November, you should also be able to spot the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters below and to the left of it.
- By the time it's high in the sky on 24 November, the Moon will be between the Pleiades and the Hyades.
- By midnight, Mars and Jupiter will be low in the east; Saturn will be low in the southwest.
Observing a supermoon
If you're planning on observing this supermoon, here are some ideas on how to make the most of it.
- Ever experienced the Moon illusion? A full Moon close to the horizon looks abnormally large
- The rising Moon may also look orange or rusty red
- You can also observe the Moon with binoculars or telescope
- Photograph a full Moon
- Photograph the Moon with a smartphone
- Get out your paper and pencils and sketch the Moon
- Full Moon is a good time to observe lunar ray ejecta systems
- See if you can spot a halo or arc around the Moon
- See if you can spot a Moonbow
Share your supermoon observations and images with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
