This weekend offers stargazers a double feature with the Beaver moon, the last supermoon of the year, and the Leonid meteor shower. The Beaver moon will be at its full phase on Friday at 4:29 p.m. ET and will appear full until just before sunrise. This supermoon will look bigger and brighter due to an optical illusion called the “moon illusion.” The name “Beaver moon” originates from the time when beavers begin hibernation and the trapping season for their pelts during the fur trade era in North America.
A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth, known as perigee. This weekend’s Beaver moon is the last of this year’s four supermoons and is not an official astronomical term but is commonly used when a full moon is within 90 percent of perigee. Additionally, the Leonid meteor shower will peak Saturday night into early Sunday, providing a bonus scene in the sky for viewers.
Upcoming celestial events include the last full moon of 2024 on Dec. 15, the Geminid meteor shower on Dec. 12 to 13, and the Ursid meteor shower on Dec. 21 to 22. Stargazers can enjoy these astronomical events and the beauty of the night sky throughout the month of December.
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