How To See The Beaver Moon Brighten Up The Sky Tonight

If you spent any time looking outside, you couldn't have missed the Harvest Moon that happened last month. It was the first full moon after the Autumnal Equinox and lasted for days. It was a sight to see, and you'll get a very similar sight Nov. 3, 2017 when you look out your window. The next full moon is upon us and it is called the Hunter's Moon or what farmer's call the Beaver Moon. It will grace our sky on Friday until Saturday morning, but depending on where you are you might be wondering how to see the beaver moon.

Well, good news is it will be a full moon in the night sky, so depending on if you have a clear view or not it shouldn't be hard to see. The Beaver Moon will be at its brightest at 1:23 a.m. ET on Nov. 4, according to NASA, and will appear full for about three days. So, now's the time to prepare a full moon weekend with your girls. Though the Beaver Moon will be bright and full, it is not technically a supermoon.

What Is A Supermoon?

A supermoon is when the moon is full on the day it is at its perigee, aka closest distance to the Earth. That means it will appear larger than usual in the sky. The moon will be closest on Friday, so it misses out on being a supermoon by one day — talk about harsh. Can't we let this one slide just once, and give the moon a cool title? I guess not; it's stuck with beaver. Despite it not technically being super, the moon will look pretty close to a supermoon, which means you can break out your cameras for an epic moon photo for your Instagram.

And if you're super bummed about the moon missing out on its supermoon classification, don't worry. The next scheduled supermoon is Dec. 3, so you won't have to wait that long. Though this weekend's moon will be just as much a sight to see.

Where Can I See The Beaver Moon?

You'll be able to get a good view of the moon from just about anywhere with clear skies — even if you're in a busy and bright city. And if you happen to live in New York City, the moon will set at 7:40 a.m. ET and the sun will rise at 7:30 a.m. ET, so there is a chance for you to see both the sun and moon sharing the sky at the same time.

It's like the two friends will be briefly passing the sky to say, "Hey, what's up?" If you can get a flat horizon viewing or on a rooftop of a tall building, it will make for a great sight to see. Don't forget to use the panorama setting on your camera for a cool pic.

What Else Will The Beaver Moon Pass By?

The Beaver Moon's path won't pass through any of the 12 constellations of the traditional zodiac, but will pass into Cetus and in front of Aldebaran. The Aldebaran is the brightest star in Taurus, so on Nov. 5 you might just be able to see occultation which is when one celestial body blocks another. Also, make sure to check out your full moon in Taurus horoscope before heading outside to witness the Beaver Moon.

For those of us in the western half of the U.S., we might be able to catch the latter half of occultation right before moonrise. No matter what though, looking out at the night sky will be a sight to see. So, don't forget to bring your camera, and your moon loving friends out for a special viewing. Bring the themed snacks like moon pies and moon cheese, and enjoy the not technically supermoon but still a super of sorts in our hearts, the Beaver Moon.