On Tuesday night, sky enthusiasts should prepare for an impressive celestial event that will unfold in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
WASHINGTON — This week, stargazers can look forward to witnessing the most dazzling and closest supermoon of the year as it graces the sky on Wednesday night.
The Super Beaver Moon will reach its peak brightness at 8:19 a.m. ET on Wednesday, November 5. During this time, the moon will be approximately 221,817 miles away from Earth.
This will be the closest proximity the moon will achieve to our planet throughout the entire year. It will be nearly 2,800 miles nearer than the supermoon seen in October, making it appear significantly larger and more radiant.
Since the peak occurs during daylight hours, the optimal time for viewing the supermoon will be Tuesday night, as the moon draws near its closest point, or Wednesday night, as it starts to recede.
The term “supermoon” is a popular, yet not scientifically formal, designation used when a full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit. This phenomenon typically occurs three or four times annually, often in succession due to the moon’s ever-changing orbital path.
What makes a moon so super?
More a popular term than a scientific one, a supermoon occurs when a full lunar phase syncs up with an especially close swing around Earth. This usually happens only three or four times a year and consecutively, given the moon’s constantly shifting, oval-shaped orbit.
A supermoon obviously isn’t bigger, but it can appear that way, although scientists say the difference can be barely perceptible.
Experts note that the so-called “moon illusion” makes the moon appear especially large when it’s near the horizon. “Your brain compares it to everyday objects, like trees or buildings, and inflates its size,” EarthSky notes.
What will I see Wednesday?
If weather cooperates, the moon will rise low on the horizon, offering an ideal opportunity for photographs and stargazing. It will appear full for several nights in a row, similar to October’s Harvest Moon.
A supermoon occurs when the moon’s elliptical orbit brings it to perigee (the term for when it’s closest to the Earth) while it is also full. The result is a moon that can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than when it’s at its farthest distance.
The November full moon is traditionally known as the Beaver Moon, a name with origins in Native American and European folklore. The name is thought to refer to how beavers build dams and prepare for winter, or when trappers once set their final traps of the season for the animals’ thick pelts, according to NASA.
How to get the best view of the supermoon
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Check your local moonrise time using a weather or stargazing app.
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Find a high vantage point with an unobstructed view of the horizon.
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Avoid artificial lights for a clearer, more dramatic view.
