Tonight's full moon is going to be the closest, biggest, and brightest of 2025.
Known as the Beaver Moon, this full moon rises just 221,818 miles (356,980 kilometers) from Earth - close enough to qualify as a supermoon.
Because it's at perigee, the point in its orbit where it comes closest to Earth, the moon looks unusually large and luminous in the sky. If you step outside just after sunset, you'll likely notice it looks bigger than usual - and it is.
The Beaver Moon gets its name from traditional North American sources, marking the season when beavers prepare for winter and trappers set their last lines before the freeze. It's long been a symbol of seasonal change and survival.
Supermoons can look up to 14% larger and nearly 30% brighter than a typical full moon, especially when low on the horizon. That's also when the "moon illusion" kicks in, making the moon appear enormous compared to objects on the ground.
It's the third and final supermoon of 2025. And the conditions tonight - cold, crisp autumn air and early sunset - make for perfect viewing. Clouds permitting.
