The November full moon put on a magnificent show for stargazers on Nov. 5, as the largest and brightest supermoon of 2025 flooded the sky with reflected sunlight mere hours before it reached its closest point to Earth in its 27-day orbit.

November's full moon is also known as the "Beaver Moon", in reference to the period when the buck-toothed mammals become particularly active in preparation for the long winter months. It is also known as the Frost Moon and the Digging/Scratching Moon, to reflect the time when bears build their winter dens, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

Photographers around the world captured a treasure trove of magnificent lunar portraits as the disk of Earth's natural satellite climbed over the eastern horizon last night, rising close to ancient monuments and modern skyscrapers along with breathtaking natural landscapes.

Read on to see a selection of beautiful images of the November full moon  — and if you missed the show on Nov. 5, there's no need to worry, as the lunar disk will appear near-full to the casual observer for several nights to come.

The 2025 full 'Beaver' supermoon in photos

Photographer Kevin McCarthy captured a strikingly detailed view of the Beaver Moon hanging in the sky over Charlotte, North Carolina, using a Canon 7D camera with a Sigma 160-600mm telephoto lens on Nov. 4, one night before the full moon phase.

"I never tire of photographing all phases of the moon, but supermoons are special because of their closeness to the Earth and brighter illumination," McCarthy told Space.com in an email. "My goal when shooting a supermoon is to try and capture as much detail as possible. I was especially satisfied with this shot because it was hand-held."

On that same night Omer Urer captured the moon rising over 5,000 miles (8,050 kilometers) away above a thematically correct neon-lit sign in the city of Düzce, Turkey, revealing the sweeping expanses of ancient lava fields darkening the lunar surface.

This gorgeous view of the yellow supermoon shining above the Sydney Opera House was captured by Robbie Pesiwarissa close to sunset on Nov. 5, as crowds gathered in the evening air.

"In contrast to last month, when the full moon was obscured by overcast weather, Sydney was fortunate this time," said Pesiwarissa in an email to Space.com. "Throughout most of the day, the sky remained clear, providing the perfect conditions to observe a magical full moon."

Luis Gutierrez melded sport and astronomy by snapping the moon shining next to the floodlights of the Fernando Valenzuela stadium in Hermosillo, Mexico, on the night of Nov. 5, during a baseball match between Naranjeros de Hermosillo and Algodoneros de Guasave.

Our next shot is a wide-field view of the world-famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, lit in gold with the light of the full moon shining from behind a delicate formation of dappled clouds, as captured on the night of Nov. 5 by photographer Thibaud Moritz.

Moritz also employed a telephoto lens to give us a beautifully detailed shot of the moon's fully-lit disk peeking out from behind the vast steel structure of the iconic monument.

This atmospheric shot of the full moon glowing over the Monserrate Sanctuary in Bogotá, Colombia was captured by Juancho Torres on Nov. 5, as Earth's natural satellite climbed high above the eastern horizon.

The moon's silvery light was captured shining in the heart of an artificial star as it rose above the Shandong Province of China on Nov. 5. The striking image is a composite shot that required multiple shots to balance the light of the foreground and distant lunar subject.

This view of a yellow moon shining close to the summit of the Monte Prena peak in the L'Aquila region of Italy was captured on the night of Nov. 5 by Lorenzo Di Cola. It's unusual hue is the result of a phenomenon known as Rayleigh Scattering, which disrupts the bluer wavelengths of the moon's reflected light as it lies close to the horizon, where the atmosphere is thickest, while allowing redder wavelengths to pass through relatively unhindered.

Photographer David Balogh managed to catch a well-timed shot of a commercial jet appearing to gently nose a yellow full moon from his vantage point near Budapest Airport in Hungary, as the lunar disk climbed higher in the darkening sky.

Next, we have a wide-angle view of the moon shining over Gaza City in Gaza, as captured by photographer Mahmoud Abu Hamda on the night of Nov. 5, as fishermen plied the placid coastal waters.

Photographer Kirill Kudryavstev snapped the plume of a commercial airliner darkening the lunar surface from Frankfurt in western Germany as the supermoon hung low in the sky on Nov. 5, revealing the presence of bright craters contrasting against sprawling lunar seas.

Finally, Didem Mente lined up a beautiful shot in which the disk of the full moon appears to form a halo over the head of the Monumento a la Inmaculada Concepcion in the Spanish city of Seville on Nov. 4, a day before Earth's natural satellite reached its full moon phase.

If you missed the November full moon there's absolutely no need to let your mood crater. Both the December 2025 and January 2026 full moons will take place as the moon nears its closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit — a period known as perihelion — giving rise to a string of spectacular supermoons.

Photographers interested in capturing these lunar events should check out our guide to photographing the moon, along with our roundups of the best lenses and cameras for astrophotography in 2025.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your lunar astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Editor's note: What a show! Last night's supermoon wowed skywatchers worldwide. Don't miss our Beaver Moon photo roundup featuring some of the best shots captured around the world.

The November full moon is upon us, heralding a spectacular natural light show as the largest supermoon of 2025 takes to the sky near the peak of the Southern Taurid meteor shower, which is known for producing dramatic fireball shooting stars.

November's full moon is also known as the "Beaver Moon" in North America, in reference to the time of year when beavers become more active as they prepare for winter. It is also known as the Frost Moon, according to the Farmer's Almanac.

The moon will reach its full moon phase at 8:19 a.m. EST (1319 GMT) on Nov. 5, just hours before it reaches the closest point to our planet in its 27-day elliptical orbit — an event known to astronomers as "perigee". As such, November's moon will be the biggest and brightest "supermoon" of the year.

Whilst it isn't an official astronomy term, supermoons are considered to occur when a full moon occurs within 90 percent of perigee and can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a full moon that occurs around apogee — when the natural satellite is at its farthest from Earth in its orbital cycle.

What to expect

Look to the eastern horizon at sunset on Nov. 5 to see the fully-lit lunar disk shine brightly in the evening sky close to the stars of the constellation Aries. The moon will appear larger while close to the horizon and may adopt a yellow-orange hue, as the particles in Earth's atmosphere scatter the bluer wavelengths of its reflected light.

You can also watch November's full supermoon rise from the comfort of your home thanks to a free livestream courtesy of the Virtual Telescope Project starting at 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT) on Nov. 5, so there's no need to worry if clouds conspire to ruin your view on the day!

The dark expanses of the lunar seas make for a spectacular target to explore around the full moon phase, as moonlight floods the Autumn sky, making it challenging to observe fainter deep sky objects such as galaxies and nebulas.

Saturn will be visible shining as a bright evening star to the right of the moon towards the south at sunset, while Jupiter will rise to the lower left of the moon in the east a few hours later, shining below the bright stars Castor and Pollux in the constellation Gemini.

The November full moon occurs one night after the peak of the Southern Taurid meteor shower, which is known for producing dramatic "fireball" shooting stars. Meteors associated with the shower will appear to originate from the constellation Taurus, which can be found to the lower left of the lunar disk on Nov. 5.

Photographers interested in capturing the full moon should read our guide to imaging Earth's natural satellite, while those looking to upgrade their gear should check out our roundups of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your lunar astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

The moon has captivated human imagination for millennia. As Earth's only natural satellite, it has inspired myths, guided calendars, and lit up countless night skies. But beyond its poetic allure lies a world of fascinating science—from its formation and orbit to the way it influences tides and eclipses.

This quiz invites you to dive deeper into the moon's mysteries and discover how much you really know about our luminous neighbor.

Each phase of the moon tells a story. Whether it's the slender crescent rising at dusk or the brilliant full moon dominating the sky, these changing shapes are more than just beautiful—they're the result of precise cosmic choreography. Understanding the lunar cycle not only enhances your skywatching experience but also connects you to the rhythms of nature that have guided humanity for centuries.

So whether you're gazing up from your backyard or planning your next lunar eclipse viewing party, this quiz is your launchpad to lunar literacy.

Try it out below and see how well you score!

The night of the first quarter moon phase on July 2 presents a good opportunity to spot a colossal 'X' and 'V' emblazoned on the lunar surface.

This month's first quarter phase occurs at 11:41 p.m. EDT on July 2 (0341 GMT on July 3), at which time the right side of the half-lit lunar disk will be illuminated by direct sunlight from the perspective of viewers in the northern hemisphere on Earth.

At this time, the sun shines at such an angle to make it appear as if there is a gigantic 'V' and 'X' marking the barren lunar surface. This kind of phenomenon is referred to as a 'clair-obscur' effect and occurs when the interplay between light and shadow leads to the chance formation of familiar shapes on the moon's craggy terrain.

How to spot the letters 'X' and 'V' marking the lunar surface

The lunar letters are visible for roughly four hours in the run-up to each first quarter moon phase and are at their most impressive when seen just on the 'night' side of the terminator, with their upper reaches kissed by the sun's light. Try and find the lunar 'X' and 'V' on the lunar disk at sunset on July 2 and be sure to keep checking back to see how these shapes evolve over time.

If you miss the letters on the night side of the terminator, there's no need to lose hope, as they'll continue to be visible for a brief period after they pass to the 'day side' of the moon.

The lunar X is an optical effect formed when sunlight strikes elevated rim sections of the Bianchini, Purbach and La Caille Craters around the first quarter moon phase, according to stargazing website EarthSky.org. The feature can be found around 25 degrees south of the lunar equator close to the terminator, which is the line separating the dayside and nightside of the moon, close to the prominent Werner and Aliacensis Craters.

To find the lunar 'V', moongazers must follow the line of the terminator up to a point less than 10 degrees above the lunar equator to find the partially shadowed form of the Ukert Crater. Both objects can be spotted through a small backyard telescope with a 6-inch aperture, though a larger scope will help resolve detail in the myriad craters and broken terrain dotting the surrounding moonscapes.

Stargazers interested in exploring the lunar surface should check out our guides to the best telescopes and binoculars available in 2025. Photographers interested in capturing the moon's surface should also read our roundup of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography.

This article was updated at 3:10 a.m. EDT (0810 GMT) on July 2 to change ‘June 2’ to the correct date of ‘July 2’ for the lunar event.

Editor's Note: If you capture a picture of the letters on the moon and want to share it with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

As the moon moves around the Earth in its monthly orbit, it often passes in front of background stars. Such events are called "lunar occultations" and one will happen Thursday at dawn in a Thanksgiving lunar treat.

The path the moon follows varies a bit from month to month because its orbit is not exactly over the Earth's equator. Because of this, there is quite a long list of objects the moon can occult. This includes a number of bright stars, and, of course, all of the planets.

On Thursday morning (Nov. 26), the moon will occult one of the brightest red giant stars in the sky, the star Aldebaran in Taurus. [Lunar Tips: How to Observe the Moon]

Because the moon has no significant atmosphere, there will be no dimming of Aldebaran as its occulted: it simply winks out as if a switch was turned. The only exception is in a grazing occultation, when the moon just covers a star. Sometimes the star will peek out once or twice as it passes behind a valley right onthe edge of the moon.

The exact time of the occultation will depend on your location. A planetarium program like Starry Night will give you the time for your location.

For example, from New York City, the star will disappear at 5:47 a.m. EST; the moon will have set by the time Aldebaran reappears. In Seattle, the star will vanish at exactly 2 a.m. PST, and reappear 53 minutes later. For locations in the southern United States, the moon will miss Aldebaran completely. [How to Photograph the Moon Through a Telescope]

These differences occur for two reasons.

First, different parts of the country are on different time zones. More important is that the moon's location in the sky varies depending on your location because the moon is much closer to us than the stars or planets, so every location on Earth sees it from a different perspective. The background stars don't change, but the moon's position in front of them does.

Don't feel you have to stay up late (or rise super early) to see a lunar occultation. Aldebaran is located right in front of the Hyades star cluster, so that wherever you are and whatever time you look tonight, the chances are good that you will see one or more of the hundreds of stars in the Hyades being occulted by the moon.

Editor's note: If you snap a great picture of the moon and Aldebaran, or any other night sky view, and would like to share it with Space.com and its news partners for a possible story or gallery, send images and comments to managing editor Tariq Malik at: spacephotos@space.com.

This article was provided by Simulation Curriculum, the leader in space science curriculum solutions and the makers of Starry Night and SkySafari. Follow Starry Night on Twitter @StarryNightEdu. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebookand Google+. Original article on Space.com.