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 November full moon, also known as the Beaver Moon or Frost Moon, rises today, marking the biggest and brightest full moon of 2025.

You can watch the supermoon live online thanks to a free livestream from astronomer Gianluca Masi and his Virtual Telescope Project in Manciano, Italy. The webcast begins at 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT) on Nov. 5, and you can watch it live here on Space.com (via the video above) or directly on the Virtual Telescope Project's WebTV or YouTube channel, weather permitting.

"We will be observing it from Manciano, Italy, where our facility is based," Masi told Space.com in an email. "Also, we will show the best full Moon images we collected over the years, particularly those with our satellite shining above the legendary monuments and skyline of Rome".

Why is this full moon special?

The moon reaches its full phase at 8:19 a.m. EST (1319 GMT) on Nov. 5. Later the same at 5:30 p.m. EST (2230 GMT), it hits perigee — its closest point to Earth of the year — at a distance of 221,726 miles (356,833 kilometers). The close timing makes tonight's Beaver Moon a supermoon and the largest apparent full moon of 2025. It will appear about 6% larger and 16% brighter than an average full moon, a subtle difference that many casual observers won't notice.

Even so, supermoons are still a treat to watch, especially near the horizon, where the moon illusion can make the disk look dramatically larger.

If you're looking for a telescope or binoculars to observe the moon, our guides for the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals now can help. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can help you get ready to capture the next stunning skywatching event.

Editor's Note: If you snap a photo of the moon and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

The November Full Moon, also known as the Beaver Moon rises today and is the last supermoon of the year.

You can watch the full moon rise live from Italy, in a free livestream courtesy of astronomer Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project. The November full moon livestream starts at 1:30 p.m. EST (1830 GMT) and you can watch it live here on Space.com or directly on the Virtual Telescope Project's WebTV or YouTube channel, weather permitting.

"We will share this Supermoon live, online, showing real-time images from our telescopes installed in Manciano, Italy, in the wonderful Maremma countryside", Masi told Space.com in an email.

Supermoons are especially impressive because they happen when the moon is within 90% of its nearest distance to Earth, making it appear roughly 30% brighter and 14% larger than usual. The moon's orbit is oval-shaped, or elliptical, so the moon's distance from Earth changes throughout its 27.3-day orbit of our planet. Despite the fact that the moon is closer to us during a supermoon, the size difference can be hard to detect without visual aids.

Related: The final supermoon of 2024 rises Nov. 15 as November's Full Beaver Moon

November's supermoon is the last supermoon of 2024, the closest supermoon this year occurred on Oct. 17.

If you're looking for the right equipment, check out our top picks for the best astrophotography cameras and the best lenses for astrophotography to help you get prepared for your next stargazing session. Interested in seeing more stunning night sky views? Don’t miss our nightly skywatching guide, updated daily with everything you need to know for your skywatching plans.

Editor's Note: If you capture a stunning photo or video of November's full moon and want to share it with Space.com for a possible story, send images, videos, and comments on the view and your location, as well as use permissions to spacephotos@space.com.

November's full moon will rise tonight, bringing an early Thanksgiving treat for skywatchers lucky enough to have clear skies over the long U.S. holiday weekend. 

The full moon tonight (Nov. 25) moon will be at its best tonight at 5:44 p.m. EST (2244 GMT), but to the average skywatcher, the moon can appear full in the day before and the day after the actual event. That means that the moon may still appear full on Thanksgiving as many U.S. skywatchers get full on turkey dinners to celebrate the holiday. November's full moon is traditionally known among Native Americans as the Full Beaver Moon.

"Another interpretation suggests that the name Beaver Full Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now active in their preparation for winter," Rao explained in his guide to the full moon names of 2015. 

November's full moon is also known as the Frost Moon or the Frosty Moon, according to Rao and the "Farmer's Almanac," which is no surprise, since it comes at a time when the days take on a prewinter chill in the North.

While the full moon may not be the best time to observe the moon (its overwhelming brightness can wash out details), it is one of the most accessible targets in the night sky for beginning stargazers. If you plan to observe the moon with a telescope, you may want to consider a moon filter, which dulls the moon's brilliance in order to reveal details on the lunar surface. [How to Photograph the Moon Through a Telescope]

And if tonight's full moon isn't enough of a holiday treat for you, just wait until next month. The full moon of December will occur early on Dec. 25, making it a dazzling lunar present for Christmas morning skywatchers. 

Editor's note: If you capture an amazing view of the full moon tonight or any other view of the night sky, and you'd like to share it with Space.com and its news partners for a possible story or gallery, you can send images and comments to managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com.

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.

The bright full moon of November will rise  overnight tonight (Nov. 10) on the heels of severe snow storms across the United States, bringing with it some appropriately chilly lunar nicknames.

November's full moon has many names, but perhaps the most timely are its "Snow Moon" and "Frost Moon" monikers since the moon hits its full phase as Alaska braces for a monster storm along its west coast, and just over a week after a huge storm rocked the U.S. east coast.

The full moon of each month is actually a brief event, with November's full moon occurring at 3:16 p.m. EST (2016 GMT). But to the casual skywatcher, the moon still appears full on the days before and after the main event.

"The Full Moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise, the only night in the month when the moon is in the sky all night long," wrote SPACE.com contributor Geoff Gaherty, an astronomer with the skywatching software developer Starry Night Education, in a November skywatching guide. "The rest of the month, the moon spends at least some time in the daytime sky."

Tonight, the moon will appear near the bright planet Jupiter, which is shining off to the moon's right. Both objects can be found in the constellation Aries as they make their way across the night sky tonight.

The sky map of the full moon, Jupiter and Aries here shows how they will appear together tonight.

November's full moon has also been known as the Beaver Moon, though the name has two interpretations.

According to one, the Beaver Moon takes its name from the animal itself, since this is the time they are actively preparing for winter. Another tale, however, states that the lunar nickname comes from hunters as a reminder to set beaver traps before swamps freeze over for the winter.

Other names for this month's moon include its Hindi name of Kartik Poornima and Sinhala (Buddhist) name Il Poya, according to Gaherty.

November's full moon is not the only lunar delight this month. On Nov. 25, the moon will block part of the sun in a partial solar eclipse, which will be visible to skywatchers in southern South Africa, Antarctica, Tasmania, and most of New Zealand.

If you snap a stunning view of the November full moon and would like to share it with SPACE.com, send images and comments on the view to managing editor Tariq Malik at: tmalik@space.com.

You can follow SPACE.com Managing Editor Tariq Malik on Twitter @tariqjmalik. Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.