How to see November 5 beaver moon as biggest supermoon of 2025 to light up skies

You may see a "dam" fine sight if you like towards the heavens this November as a so-called supermoon appears in the sky known as a beaver moon. The cosmic phenomenon will appear over Britain in the coming days and is expected to be the largest our closest solar neighbour will look to the naked eye this year.

This will be the second time this year a supermoon event has happened, and the upcoming display has also been called a freezing moon or frost moon because of the time of year it occurs. The November full moon follows an almost equally massive-looking moon appearing at the start of October, which is known as the harvest moon. Scroll down for more detail on the incoming supermoon....

What is a supermoon?

According to the Met Office, the term 'supermoon' refers to a full moon that occurs when the moon is at or near its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, a position known as the perigee.

Because the Moon's orbit is not a perfect circle, its distance from Earth varies throughout the year. When a full moon coincides with perigee, or falls within 90% of this closest approach, it is classified as a supermoon.

A supermoon can seem up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full moons, making it a particularly striking sight in the night sky.

Why is it called a beaver moon?

As mentioned previously, this lunar event is also known as a frost or freezing moon because of the temperatures it often occurs alongside, but it is also known as a beaver moon.

According to the Royal Greenwich Museum, there is disagreement over the origin of November's beaver moon name. Some say it comes from Native Americans setting beaver traps during this month, while others say the name comes from the heavy activity of beavers building their winter dams.

What is the best time to see the beaver moon?

The beaver supermoon will be at its peak around 1.19pm on Wednesday November 5, but it will also be very visible into the evening and night.

Guy Fawkes Night crowds should be treated to a stunning display from the beaver moon alongside the usual bonfire light and fireworks.

The light from the more massive moon will also provide greater visibility helping people navigate those muddy parks and fields to get to the fireworks display.

What is the weather forecast?

The Met Office say the UK should be cloudy for much of Wednesday with outbreaks of rain, some of these perhaps heavy at times.

How can I get the best view of a supermoon?

Unlike many objects in our solar system you won't need a telescope to see the beaver moon, in fact it should be very easy to see with the naked eye and make for an impressive sight. High-powered digital cameras should be able to allow a slightly better view and the beaver moon display can make for some spectacular photographs.