The Connecticut night sky will host the year's largest and brightest full moon tonight — a supermoon that peaked in brightness at 8:19 a.m. on Nov. 5. It rises around 4:26 p.m. in the constellation Aries, though showers between 8 and 11 p.m. could hinder evening viewing. For clearer skies, try early Thursday morning before sunrise at 6:29 a.m.. This is the second of four consecutive supermoons running Oct. 2025–Jan. 2026.
Supermoon to Brighten Connecticut Skies Tonight — When and How to See It
The Connecticut night sky will host the year's largest and brightest full moon tonight — a supermoon that peaked in brightness at 8:19 a.m. on Nov. 5. It rises around 4:26 p.m. in the constellation Aries, though showers between 8 and 11 p.m. could hinder evening viewing. For clearer skies, try early Thursday morning before sunrise at 6:29 a.m.. This is the second of four consecutive supermoons running Oct. 2025–Jan. 2026.
13:05, 06.11.2025Science
Supermoon to Brighten Connecticut Skies Tonight
The night sky over Connecticut will offer a striking display tonight as the year's largest and brightest full moon becomes visible. Classified as a supermoon because it occurs near the moon's closest approach to Earth, this full moon reached peak brightness at about 8:19 a.m. on Nov. 5 and will remain prominent once darkness falls.
What is a supermoon?
A supermoon happens when a month's full moon coincides with the moon's perigee — the point in its elliptical orbit closest to Earth. When a full moon occurs at perigee, it can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a full moon at apogee, the farthest point from Earth, according to Space.com. The moon itself isn’t physically larger; it only looks bigger because it’s closer to us.
When and where to look
The supermoon is expected to rise at 4:26 p.m. and will be positioned in the constellation Aries toward the northeast. While it should be visible to the naked eye, viewing conditions may vary by location.
Weather and best viewing times
Clouds and possible showers could limit visibility on Wednesday night. The National Weather Service's Hartford-area forecast predicts showers and cloud cover between 8 and 11 p.m., which may obscure the view. For clearer conditions, consider observing early Thursday morning before sunrise at 6:29 a.m. when the sky is expected to clear.
Names and folklore
The November full moon is traditionally called the beaver moon. The Old Farmer's Almanac notes the name reflects the time when beavers would enter their dens after gathering food for winter. Historically, it was also a prime month for fur trappers to set beaver traps for their thick, winter-ready pelts. Other traditional names for November’s full moon include the deer rutting moon, digging moon, whitefish moon, frost moon and freezing moon.
More supermoons coming
This is the second of four consecutive supermoons expected from October 2025 through January 2026. The next supermoon falls on Dec. 4, followed by another on Jan. 3, 2026, according to EarthSky.
This story contains previous reporting from Peter Yankowski.
Originally published as: “A supermoon will light up Connecticut's night sky tonight. Here's what to know.”