The November full moon reaches maximum illumination at 9:53 a.m. EST (1453 GMT) on Nov. 24, as the lunar disk sits opposite the sun in Earth's sky, appearing fully lit by its rays.
November's full moon is traditionally known as the "Beaver Moon", because it rises around the time when the small mammals take refuge in their dens, having stored enough food to survive the long winter months, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
The Nov. 24 full moon also happens to be the first of three consecutive "supermoons". The non-scientific term is often bestowed on full moons that occur when the natural satellite is within 90% of perigee, when the moon is closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit. The proximity can make a supermoon appear 14% larger ...
