What's worth seeing in the last supermoon of 2024?

On November 15, astronomy and photography enthusiasts around the world will have the opportunity to admire the last supermoon of 2024 - the Beaver Moon. This is the fourth consecutive supermoon since August. Before that, we welcomed the Sturgeon Moon, the Harvest Moon, the Hunter Moon and finally the Beaver Moon.

The Singapore Science Centre Observatory says the next supermoon will appear around October 2025.

Why is it called the beaver moon?

The observatory says each full moon has its own name depending on the month – full moons that occur in November are traditionally called beaver moons.

However, the 2024 Beaver Moon is significant because it is also considered a supermoon, meaning it will appear larger and brighter due to being closer to Earth.

The name “beaver moon” comes from Native American and early European settlers traditions, who used the name for the full moon to mark the change of seasons. November is believed to be a time when beavers are especially active, as they build dams and store food, preparing for winter.

The supermoon rises over Huntsville, Alabama, home of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, on August 19, 2024. (Photo: NASA)

Supermoons are not rare and occur quite often due to the Moon's orbit around Earth, said NASA research scientist Dennis Gallagher.

On November 15, the Moon will reach a distance of about 360,000 km from Earth. This is significantly closer than the Moon's average distance of 384,400 km, making it appear larger and brighter than usual.

The beaver moon is expected to rise at around 5.45pm on 15 November 2019, and will reach its peak height a little after 6pm, according to the Straits Times. For the best view, find an open area with a clear line of sight to the horizon, just after sunset, although weather conditions will affect visibility.

According to Space.com, the November full moon is accompanied by another astronomical sight: the beautiful Pleiades star cluster, located right next to the moon in the constellation Taurus. This dense cluster, also known as the “Seven Sisters,” is one of the most beloved sights in the night sky.

Quartz

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