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November full moon 2026: When, where and how to see the Beaver Moon
Your guide to November's full Beaver Moon, from peak times to skywatching highlights.
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The November full moon reaches maximum illumination at 9:53 a.m. EST (1453 GMT) on Nov. 24, as the lunar disk sits opposite the sun in Earth's sky, appearing fully lit by its rays.
November's full moon is traditionally known as the "Beaver Moon", because it rises around the time when the small mammals take refuge in their dens, having stored enough food to survive the long winter months, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
The Nov. 24 full moon also happens to be the first of three consecutive "supermoons". The non-scientific term is often bestowed on full moons that occur when the natural satellite is within 90% of perigee, when the moon is closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit. The proximity can make a supermoon appear 14% larger and 30% brighter than the smallest full moon of the year, according to NASA.
The November full moon will be below the horizon for stargazers in the U.S. when it turns full at 9:53 a.m. EST on Nov. 24. Instead, viewers in America will get their best view of the near-full Beaver Moon as it arcs towards the western horizon in the predawn hours of Nov. 23.
You may notice the lunar disk take on a gorgeous yellow-orange hue in the hour before moonset, as the bluer wavelengths of its light are scattered by Earth's dense atmosphere through a process known as Rayleigh scattering — the same phenomenon that turns the sky red at sunset.
November's supermoon may appear even larger as it travels close to the horizon thanks to a phenomenon known as the "Moon Illusion", which tricks us into thinking that the lunar disk is larger than it actually is while closer to foreground objects, compared to when it shines overhead. The moon will also appear fully lit to the casual observer on the evenings of Nov. 23 and Nov. 24, so there's no need to miss out if you struggle with early mornings!
The table below details local full moon timings for when the moon is 100% illuminated for a selection of cities spread across the globe (local moonset and moonrise times will vary based on your location):
The November full moon is often called the Beaver Moon because it rises around the time that beavers retreat to their lodges after collecting enough food to see them through the winter.