Catch November’s Beaver Moon before dinner on this date. Why December’s full moon will look even bigger

If you are skywatcher then you have good news. If you wish to see something spectacular then you should look northeast before dinner on Tuesday, November 24. The Beaver Moon will rise around sunset across the United States, giving skywatchers a chance to see the November supermoon while there’s still some daylight, as per a report by Forbes. Then, a month later, December’s Cold Moon will come even closer to Earth.

When to see the November supermoon

The Beaver Moon reaches its full phase at 9:53 a.m. ET (6:53 a.m. PT) on November 24. The better time to step outside is late afternoon, when the moon rises in the northeast. In both New York and Los Angeles, it clears the horizon a few minutes before the sun goes down.

City	Moonrise on Nov. 24	Sunset
New York City	4:15 p.m. EST	4:31 p.m. EST
Los Angeles	4:42 p.m. PST	4:45 p.m. PST

Times are local.


Where to watch the Beaver Moon rise

Pick a spot with a clear view to the northeast. An open field or an overlook works well. In a city, try a waterfront where you can see across the water in that direction. Get there a little early to find the correct spot. A row of buildings or trees can hide the moon for several minutes after the listed moonrise.

Watch what happens as it climbs. A moon that looked enormous beside a rooftop can seem to shrink once it’s high in the sky. NASA calls that the moon illusion. The supermoon’s extra size comes from its actual distance from Earth. The dramatic effect at the horizon comes from how we see it.

When to watch December’s bigger Christmas supermoon

December’s Cold Moon will be the closest full moon of 2026 and the closest since January 2018. It reaches its full phase on Wednesday, Dec. 23, at 8:28 p.m. ET (5:28 p.m. PT). The calendar already reads December 24 in UTC, which explains why you may see both dates listed on other platforms.

For a US moonrise near dusk, circle December 23. The Cold Moon rises at 3:58 p.m. in New York and 4:29 p.m. in Los Angeles, local time. If you’re out on Christmas Eve, you’ll get another chance. The moon will still look full, with moonrise at 5:15 p.m. in New York and 5:44 p.m. in Los Angeles.

FAQs

Why is it called the Beaver Moon?

The Old Farmer’s Almanac traces the name to the season when trappers set out to catch beavers before waterways froze.

What makes a full moon a supermoon?

It happens when the moon is full near perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit. From here, it looks slightly larger and brighter than usual.