The November Full Moon
Beaver Moon
November's full moon, when beavers finish their lodges for winter.
The next Beaver Moon is full on Tuesday, November 24, 2026 at 17:35 UTC. It is a supermoon — full near the Moon's closest approach to Earth, so a touch larger and brighter than usual.
Why it's called the Beaver Moon
By November, beavers retreat to their finished lodges for the winter — and trappers set their beaver traps before the waters froze. Either reading gives the month's full moon its name.
November's full moon marks the beavers' last labor before the freeze, sealing their lodges against the coming cold. The name may equally recall the season trappers worked the ponds for thick winter pelts.
It was also the Frost Moon, for the hardening cold, and — in some English traditions — the Mourning Moon, the last full moon before the winter solstice.
November's full moon is also known as the Frost Moon, the Mourning Moon.
Watching the Beaver Moon
A full moon rises in the east around sunset and stays up all night, setting near sunrise — so any clear evening close to Tue, November 24 you can watch it climb once it gets dark. It looks biggest and most golden in the first hour after it rises, sitting low on the horizon.
Photographing it? A full moon is flatly lit and shows little crater relief — frame it against a landscape, hills or skyline just after moonrise for scale and warm colour. For sharp crater detail, shoot a night or two before or after full, when shadows return along the terminator.
Because the 2026 Beaver Moon is a supermoon, it appears slightly larger and up to about 15% brighter than an average full moon — most striking as it rises near the horizon.
Beaver Moon dates
| Year | Date (UTC) | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tue, November 24 · Super | 17:35 |
| 2027 | Sun, November 14 | 08:04 |
| 2028 | Thu, November 2 | 14:08 |
| 2029 | Wed, November 21 | 05:37 |
| 2030 | Sun, November 10 | 02:27 |
Times are UTC, computed from lunar geometry — local clock times vary by your time zone.
Frequently Asked
When is the Beaver Moon in 2026?
The Beaver Moon in 2026 is full on Tuesday, November 24, 2026 at 17:35 UTC. It is the full moon of November.
Why is it called the Beaver Moon?
By November, beavers retreat to their finished lodges for the winter — and trappers set their beaver traps before the waters froze. Either reading gives the month's full moon its name.
What else is the November full moon called?
Besides the Beaver Moon, November's full moon is also known as the Frost Moon, the Mourning Moon.
Is the Beaver Moon a supermoon in 2026?
Yes — the 2026 Beaver Moon on Tuesday, November 24, 2026 is a supermoon: the full moon falls near the Moon's closest approach to Earth, so it looks slightly larger and brighter than usual.