November's Beaver Moon Will Be This Year's Last Supermoon
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Full moons are always a stunning sight, but the one on November 15, 2024, promises to be even more spectacular. It will be the last of four consecutive supermoons, following August's Blue Moon, September's Harvest Moon, and October's Hunter Moon. After this, the next supermoon will not occur until October 7, 2025.
Supermoons can be as much as 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than the average full moon. They occur when the full moon coincides with the lunar perigee — the Moon's closest point to Earth in orbit. On November 15, 2024, the Moon will be about 224,853 miles (361,866 km) from Earth. This is a few thousand miles farther than the November 2016 supermoon which, at 221,524 miles (356,508 km), was the closest seen in recent history. However, it will still be breathtaking.
The distance between the Moon and Earth varies due to the Moon's elliptical orbit. This alternately brings our satellite closer to and farther from our planet. The farthest point in this orbit is known as the apogee. It places the Moon at a distance of about 253,000 miles (407,164 km) from Earth. In contrast at perigee, the Moon's distance from Earth is on average 226,000 miles (363,711 km) of Earth.
The November full moon is often called the Beaver Moon. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, this name refers to the time of year that beavers take shelter in their lodges for the long winter ahead. During North America's fur trade era, it was also the season to trap the animals for their thick, winter-ready coats. Other names for the November full moon include the Frost Moon, the Freezing Moon, and the Digging Moon.
Some people believe that a supermoon’s proximity to Earth can cause earthquakes or tidal waves. However, scientists have found no evidence to support this claim. Instead, they encourage taking advantage of the rare opportunity to capture stunning photographs of the event — and to reflect on how fortunate we are to call this beautiful planet home.
Resources: Earthsky.org, USAtoday.com, Space.com
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50 Comments
sd326673 daysI like a super moon #super moon
njcrazy183 daysCool
cam_henderson3 daysFor one super moon, Krispy Kreme had super moon doughnuts. I had one and they were DELICIOUS!
dragonlover113 days:) #SPACELOVER
factslover4 dayssigh here comes winter
pygisivajoza4 daysWow, this moon looks absolutely stunning! It's so close to us that it's a little unsettling.- addiethesigma4 daysI actually saw this supermoon and tried to take pictures of it but I never got the chance because I was in a car and there were too many trees! lol
emilyk213054 daysKnow I need to see the cold moon!!
lucymcquirt5 dayswow this is awesome!!
guyp1235 daysI love it.#supermoonsrule/