Beaver Supermoon and Three Meteor Showers Will Light Up California — When and How to Watch

Beaver Supermoon and Three Meteor Showers: What California Skywatchers Should Expect

California observers have several bright celestial events to look for in November: an orange-hued beaver supermoon and three meteor showers — the southern and northern Taurids and the Leonids. These events offer a mix of dramatic, bright fireballs and steady meteor activity over multiple nights.

The Beaver Supermoon (Nov. 4–5)

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, November’s full moon — traditionally called the beaver moon — will be the closest supermoon of 2025 at about 221,817 miles from Earth. Time and Date lists the moon’s peak illumination at 5:19 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5 (local time). National Geographic notes the moon will appear full on the nights of Tuesday, Nov. 4 and Wednesday, Nov. 5.

Because this full moon occurs near perigee — the point in the Moon’s orbit closest to Earth — it will look slightly larger and brighter than usual. As the Moon rises around sunset it may also appear more orange while near the horizon.

Taurid Meteor Showers (Nov. 4–5 and Nov. 11–12)

Both the southern and northern Taurids originate from debris left by Comet Encke and will peak over California in November.

• Southern Taurids: Expected to peak the night of Tuesday, Nov. 4 into the early hours of Wednesday, Nov. 5 (National Geographic). This shower typically produces roughly five meteors per hour, but 2025 is forecast to be a rare fireball swarm year, when exceptionally bright meteors — some brighter than Venus — become more likely.
• Northern Taurids: Predicted to peak the night of Tuesday, Nov. 11 into the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 12 (American Meteorological Society). This stream is usually weak (around five meteors per hour), but when the two Taurid streams overlap the odds of bright fireballs increase.

Note: the southern Taurids’ peak coincides with a full moon, which will wash out fainter meteors for many observers. Bright fireballs, however, can still be visible against moonlit skies.

The Leonids (Nov. 17–18)

The month’s final shower, the Leonids, are produced as Earth crosses debris from Comet Tempel–Tuttle. They are expected to peak overnight from Monday, Nov. 17 into Tuesday, Nov. 18. With a thin 9% waning crescent moon at that time and dark skies, observers under clear conditions could see as many as 15 meteors per hour, according to travel reporting on the event.

Viewing Tips for California Skywatchers

• Pick a dark location away from city lights and give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adapt to the dark.
• Plan around the Moon: fainter meteors are harder to see when the Moon is bright. The Leonids’ low moonlight makes that peak the best opportunity for fainter meteors.
• Bring a reclining chair or blanket and face away from the Moon for the widest view of the sky; you do not need a telescope.
• Check local weather and cloud cover before heading out; timing listed is local date ranges for the peaks.

Sources: Old Farmer’s Almanac, Time and Date, National Geographic, American Meteorological Society.