Kentucky stargazers can see last supermoon of the year soon. Here’s when to look up
Kentucky residents can soon catch a glimpse of November’s full moon, the beaver moon, which will be the last supermoon of the year.
The beaver moon will peak at 4:28 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Friday, Nov. 15, according to astronomy publication Space.com. The sun will set at 5:25 p.m. in Lexington that day, online clock Time and Date reports, so you may want to look a little later.
A supermoon is defined as either a new or full moon that occurs when the moon is within 90% of its closest approach to earth, NASA reports, and supermoons are the “biggest and brightest” full moons of the year.
October’s supermoon moon was the closest to Earth of the year and appeared the largest. The beaver moon is the fourth consecutive supermoon of the year.
The celestial event is called the beaver moon because it’s the time of year when beavers build their homes for the winter, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.
Many moon names come from Indigenous cultures. The almanac uses Indigenous moon names, along with monikers from colonial America and other North American sources.
The week of Nov. 15 has a mix of clear skies and potential rain in the forecast for Lexington, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures are expected to range from about 43 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit.
When will the next full moon be?
The next full moon after November’s beaver moon will be the Sunday, Dec. 15 cold moon, which is the last full moon of 2024.
The Bluegrass Amateur Astronomy Club’s last stargazing event of the year was Nov. 2, but you can expect gatherings to start back up in the spring. The skywatches are typically held at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary and Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.
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