Next week, on Wednesday, November 5th, one of the biggest full moons of the entire year will be lighting up the night sky as the very last supermoon of the year!
A full moon this size won’t be seen again until May 2026!
Whether you consider yourself a photography fan, a lover of all things lunar, or someone who enjoys taking in the starry scene above at night, this full moon is not a sight that you’ll want to miss.
When is the Beaver Supermoon going to be visible?
The last Supermoon of 2025 will be observable between Tuesday, November 4th, and Wednesday, November 5th, and barring any sudden cloud cover, should be visible from just about anywhere in the District.
The Beaver Supermoon is slated to reach ‘peak fullness’ at approximately 8:19 am, which means early risers will be able to take in the sight before the moon slips behind the horizon!
So, while you definitely do not need to get up early to catch a glimpse of the last supermoon of the year (the moon will start to set just before 5 pm on November 4th), you will have to set your alarm if you want to see it at its peak.
What makes a Supermoon so special?
A Supermoon is a much rarer occurrence than your average full moon, which takes place roughly every 29.5 days, or the total length of the lunar cycle.
A Supermoon, to put it simply, occurs when a full moon happens to take place when the moon is exactly at its closest point to Earth, a point known as the perigee.
Typically, there are around 3 or 4 supermoons per year; however, some years can have as few as two, and others as many as five!
This year, for instance, there were only two: the first was in October, and the second (and final) Supermoon of the year is coming next week.
Best spots to view the supermoon around the District
The best spots around the District to view the supermoon will definitely be the same places that make for the best spots to catch a D.C. sunset!
Here are a few options that we recommend for moon-gazing:
- The Tidal Basin
- Hains Point
- Kendall Point
- Gravelly Point