California skies will feature three meteor showers and a beaver supermoon in November. The beaver supermoon — the closest supermoon of 2025 at about 221,817 miles — will appear full on Nov. 4–5 and look larger because it occurs near perigee. Southern and northern Taurids peak Nov. 4–5 and Nov. 11–12; their overlap raises the odds of bright fireballs. A Leonid peak from Comet Tempel–Tuttle on Nov. 17–18 could yield up to about 15 meteors per hour under dark skies.
Three Meteor Showers and a Beaver Supermoon Will Light Up California Skies — When to Look Up
California skies will feature three meteor showers and a beaver supermoon in November. The beaver supermoon — the closest supermoon of 2025 at about 221,817 miles — will appear full on Nov. 4–5 and look larger because it occurs near perigee. Southern and northern Taurids peak Nov. 4–5 and Nov. 11–12; their overlap raises the odds of bright fireballs. A Leonid peak from Comet Tempel–Tuttle on Nov. 17–18 could yield up to about 15 meteors per hour under dark skies.
23:22, 02.11.2025Science
What to expect this November
California skywatchers have an exciting month ahead: three meteor showers and a bright beaver supermoon will be visible in November. Below are the key dates, viewing tips and what to watch for.
Beaver Supermoon — Nov. 4–5
The November full moon, traditionally called the beaver moon, will be the closest supermoon of 2025, about 221,817 miles from Earth, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. The moon reaches peak illumination at 5:19 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5 (Time and Date), and it will appear full on the nights of Tuesday, Nov. 4 and Wednesday, Nov. 5 (National Geographic).
Because the full moon occurs near perigee — the point in the Moon’s orbit closest to Earth — it will look slightly larger and brighter than a typical full moon. As it rises around sunset, the low-horizon moon may also take on an orange tint.
Meteor showers to watch
Three showers will be active over California in November. Here’s a quick guide:
- Southern Taurids — peak the night of Nov. 4 into the early hours of Nov. 5 (National Geographic). This shower typically produces about five meteors per hour, but 2025 may produce a rare "fireball swarm" with unusually bright meteors. Moonlight from the full supermoon may make fainter meteors hard to see.
- Northern Taurids — peak the night of Nov. 11 into the morning of Nov. 12 (American Meteorological Society). The northern Taurids are usually weak (roughly five meteors per hour), but when the northern and southern streams overlap, the chance of bright fireballs increases.
- Leonids (from Comet Tempel–Tuttle) — peak overnight Nov. 17–18. With a thin waning crescent moon (around 9% illuminated) and dark skies, the Leonids can produce up to about 15 meteors per hour for observers under clear, dark conditions.
Viewing tips
To maximize your chances:
- Choose a dark location away from city lights and give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adapt to the dark.
- Bring a reclining chair or blanket so you can scan a wide patch of sky comfortably; meteors can appear anywhere, not just at the radiant.
- For the Taurids, look generally toward the constellation Taurus (but don’t fixate on a single point — watch a large portion of sky). For the Leonids, look toward Leo and the eastern sky in the hours before dawn.
- Be aware that moonlight will hamper visibility during the southern Taurids peak (Nov. 4–5).
With clear skies and a little patience, November offers several chances to catch bright fireballs and steady meteor activity. Happy skywatching!