Stargazing: Closest Full Moon of the Year

Prepare to be dazzled by the light of the moon on Nov. 5 when it will shine at its brightest since 2019. The moon will be located at a spot in its elliptical orbit called perigee. At 221,817 miles away, it will be at its closest to Earth this year. From the farthest point to the nearest, the moon can appear up to 30% brighter. A full moon at perigee has come to be known as a supermoon. Back in 1979, the coiner of the phrase “supermoon” predicted disasters at extreme perigee. Although calamities failed to materialize, the name remained. Tides do tend to rise to higher levels at this time, with the extra gravitational pull adding to the sloshing of Earth’s coastal regions.

November’s full moon is nicknamed the Beaver Moon, from the time of trappers seeking pelts for the winter. Other names include Digging or Scratching Moon, from the Tlingit homage to animals scratching for fallen food, and bears digging winter dens. Peak illumination will be early morning, so both Nov. 4 and 5 are nights to look up. This full moon will be the year’s brightest, but get ready for one more supermoon before the year’s end.

On Nov. 6, the still beautifully gleaming moon will be near the sparkling Pleiades star cluster for an added impressive display.