The “Beaver” Supermoon will reach full illumination on Wednesday at 4:19 p.m. Jordan time—about one hour and six minutes before it rises, glowing red behind the eastern horizon of Jordan—according to the president of the Jordanian Astronomical Society, Ammar Al-Sakaji.
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At the moment of its fullness, the Moon will be in the constellation Taurus. It is the second supermoon of the year, to be followed by another on December 4, which will be the last of 2025.
The supermoon will rise from the east at 5:25 p.m. on Wednesday and set at 6:36 a.m. on Thursday, remaining bright throughout the night, according to Al-Sakaji.
He explained that the term “supermoon” is not an exaggeration, but a relative scientific description used when the full Moon occurs while the Moon is near its perigee—at least 90% of the closest point in its orbit to Earth.
“In this case, the Moon appears about 14% larger and 30% brighter than an average full Moon at apogee,” he said. “However, distinguishing this difference with the naked eye requires some astronomical experience.”
This full Moon is known globally as the Beaver Moon, a name that originates from the Algonquin tribes of North America, as November was the time when beavers actively built their lodges and dams before winter. It became the season for trapping them for their fur.
The name also symbolizes hard work and preparation for the future—just as beavers do before winter. It is also called the “Frost Moon,” “Digging Moon,” or “Snow Moon,” referring to animal behaviors associated with the arrival of cold days.
This supermoon will be the closest to Earth in 2025. Astronomical calculations show that at the moment of fullness, the Moon will be 356,980 km from Earth—the nearest since February 2019—with an angular diameter of 33.47 arcminutes, slightly larger than October’s supermoon (33.06 arcminutes).
The next apogee will occur on November 20 at 5:48 a.m. at a distance of 406,693 km (diameter 29.38 arcminutes), while the next perigee will be on November 6 at 1:29 a.m. at 356,833 km (diameter 33.49 arcminutes).
Al-Sakaji added that the normalized ratio of 99.7%—well above the 90% threshold—confirms that November’s full Moon qualifies as a supermoon by scientific standards.
He noted that an arcminute (one-sixtieth of a degree) can be roughly estimated by extending the little finger at arm’s length toward the horizon—a simple way to gauge angular distances in the sky with the naked eye.
The supermoon will appear red or pink near the horizon due to Earth’s atmosphere filtering the Moon’s reflected sunlight. As the light passes through a thicker layer of air, shorter wavelengths (blue and green) are scattered, while longer red wavelengths reach our eyes, painting the Moon in hues of red, pink, or orange—a breathtaking fusion of natural beauty and atmospheric physics.
From Jordan’s skies, after moonrise, the view becomes even more spectacular as Saturn and then Jupiter appear, while Venus—the “morning star” of love and beauty—shines on Thursday morning. Observers can also spot the bright stars Arcturus and Sirius, the majestic Orion constellation with its famous Belt, and the Pleiades cluster (the Seven Sisters) glittering overhead—a celestial spectacle, according to Al-Sakaji.
He invited astronomy and photography enthusiasts to capture the supermoon, especially at moonrise or moonset when its colors range from deep red to orange. Choosing Jordan’s natural, historical, or touristic landmarks as backgrounds would create compositions blending the country’s scenic beauty with the marvels of the cosmos.
As for environmental and geophysical effects, Al-Sakaji said they are minimal. The stronger lunar gravity slightly increases tidal levels; for instance, in the Gulf of Aqaba, calculations show an additional rise of 5–10 centimeters at most—barely noticeable except for minor shoreline changes. Only when combined with severe weather or coastal storms could it slightly intensify flooding, but it remains a secondary factor.
On land, the most notable effect is the roughly 30% increase in nighttime brightness, which may subtly affect nocturnal animals like bats, migratory birds, and insects—or slightly disturb human sleep due to the increased light intensity. These effects remain within natural limits and have no link to natural disasters such as earthquakes.
Although surrounded through the ages by myths and astrological superstitions associating it with unrest or calamities, the supermoon is purely a natural astronomical event. Modern studies confirm its physical influence is limited to minor tidal variations and enhanced brightness. Thus, the supermoon remains a magnificent celestial event—an awe-inspiring reminder of the beauty and harmony of the universe.
