November sees full beaver moon and Southern Taurid meteor shower peaks

The peak of November’s full beaver supermoon is set for 8:19 a.m. ET on Wednesday, although it will be below the horizon at that time, meaning optimal viewing will occur during the evening hours, reports BritPanorama.

The term “beaver moon” signifies the period when beavers prepare for winter, reinforcing their dams and gathering food supplies. Various cultures have different names for this lunar phase, such as the “digging moon” among the Tlingit, the “deer rutting moon” by the Dakota, and the “frost moon” by the Cree.

This supermoon event, the second of three consecutive supermoons this year, occurs when the moon is at perigee, its closest point to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter. “It’s so subtle that the human eye does not pick up the superness of it,” noted Dr. Alissa Bans, director of undergraduate studies at Emory University’s department of physics.

For those unable to view the moon due to cloud cover, the Virtual Telescope Project will host a livestream from Manciano, Italy, commencing at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

Keep an eye out for fireballs

Coinciding with the supermoon, the Southern Taurid meteor shower will peak at 8 a.m. ET on Wednesday, according to EarthSky. Although this meteor shower lacks a strong peak, it may produce around five meteors per hour. Robert Lunsford, fireball report coordinator for the American Meteorological Society, stated that viewers should remain attentive during the dark hours from October to early November as slow meteors will emerge from the constellations Aries and Taurids.

The Taurids are a product of Earth’s passage through debris from comet 2P/Encke, which has the shortest orbital period of any known comet at 3.3 years. Historically, this meteor shower has produced notable fireball displays around Halloween.

“The entire encounter with Taurids this year is special because we’re predicted to encounter some fresh material that’s a little bit larger than your average Taurid meteor. And these tend to cause fireballs,” Lunsford added. However, the bright moonlight could obscure most meteor activity, though fireballs remain a possibility.

For optimal viewing conditions, seek locations with clear skies and minimal light obstruction, such as tall buildings. Observers are advised to be outdoors after sunset but before the moon rises high in the sky.

“They slightly favor the Northern Hemisphere, but they are visible in both. Your only problem down in Australia or South Africa is the radiant is lower in the sky, so more of the Taurid meteors will be obscured by the horizon,” Lunsford explained.

Upcoming meteor showers

Upcoming meteor showers anticipated this year include:

Upcoming supermoons

Mark your calendars for the last full supermoon of the year, occurring on December 4, referred to as the Cold Moon.

The events of this week underscore a vibrant celestial display, offering opportunities for both seasoned astronomers and casual stargazers alike to engage with the night sky.