Stargazers can look forward to a double feature this weekend, with the Beaver moon, the last supermoon of the year, coinciding with the dazzling Leonid meteor shower. The Beaver moon will reach its full phase at 4:29 p.m. ET on Friday and will appear full until just before sunrise. This full moon will be the last supermoon of the year, appearing bigger and brighter than normal. The supermoon may also create a “moon illusion,” making it look even larger due to an optical illusion.
The Beaver moon is named after the time of year when beavers begin hibernation, and it was traditionally the season to trap beavers for their pelts. A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth, known as perigee. The Leonid meteor shower will also peak over the weekend, continuing until December 2nd, providing skywatchers with more opportunities to see shooting stars.
Upcoming celestial events include the last full moon of the year on December 15th, the Geminid meteor shower peaking on December 12th to 13th, and the Ursid meteor shower peaking on December 21st to 22nd. The night sky will be busy with these events, giving astronomy enthusiasts plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks.
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