Tonight, November 5, 2025, offers a spectacular celestial event: a Super Beaver Moon. This means a full moon, appearing larger and brighter than usual, will grace our skies. But what does that mean for lunar observation, and what’s behind this striking phenomenon?
Understanding the Full Moon and the Supermoon Effect
A Full Moon occurs when the Earth is positioned directly between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment means that the entire face of the Moon is illuminated by sunlight, making it appear as a complete and brilliant circle in the night sky.
However, the Moon’s orbit around Earth isn’t a perfect circle; it’s an ellipse. This means there are points in its orbit where it’s slightly closer to Earth (perigee) and points where it’s farther away (apogee). When a full moon coincides with perigee, it becomes a Supermoon. The term “Supermoon” isn’t a technical astronomical term, but a popular way to describe this visually striking effect. Because it’s closer, a Supermoon appears larger and brighter than a typical full moon.
What to Look For: Features on the Lunar Surface
With a clear sky (weather permitting), tonight’s Supermoon offers a prime opportunity for lunar observation. Even without any special equipment, certain prominent features are visible to the naked eye:
- Aristarchus Plateau: A bright, relatively flat area of the moon’s surface.
- Serenitatis and Crisium Mares: These are large, dark, basaltic plains – referred to as “seas” – formed by ancient volcanic eruptions.
Those with a pair of binoculars can spot even more detail, including:
- Endymion and Posidonius Craters: Two well-defined impact craters.
- Grimaldi Basin: A massive, circular depression on the lunar surface.
Finally, with the aid of a telescope, observers can discern features like:
- Reiner Gamma: A distinctive ray system emanating from a crater.
- Rupes Altai (Altai Scarp): A dramatic, towering cliff face.
The Lunar Cycle: Phases of the Moon
The Super Beaver Moon is a single point in the Moon’s ongoing journey through its phases. The changing appearance of the Moon – what we call the lunar phases – is simply a result of the shifting angles between the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Here’s a look at the complete cycle:
- New Moon: The Moon is between Earth and the Sun. The side facing Earth is not illuminated, making the Moon invisible.
- Waxing Crescent: A thin, curved sliver of light appears on the right side (as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere).
- First Quarter: Half of the Moon’s face is illuminated; it looks like a half-moon.
- Waxing Gibbous: More than half of the Moon is lit, but it’s not yet full. “Waxing” means growing.
- Full Moon: The entire face of the Moon is illuminated, fully visible and bright.
- Waning Gibbous: The illuminated portion of the Moon starts to decrease, beginning on the right side (Northern Hemisphere). “Waning” means shrinking.
- Third Quarter (or Last Quarter): Again, half of the Moon is illuminated, but this time the left side is lit.
- Waning Crescent: Only a thin sliver of light remains on the left side before the cycle begins anew.
The entire cycle from one New Moon to the next takes approximately 29.5 days – this is known as a lunar month.
Tonight’s Super Beaver Moon is a captivating reminder of the dynamic interplay between our planet and its natural satellite, and an excellent opportunity to appreciate the beauty of our solar system. The next full moon will occur on December 4.
