2025, November 5: Beaver Moon and the Moon Illusion: November’s Full Moon Near Perigee

November 5, 2025: The Beaver Moon reaches its full phase near perigee, appearing slightly larger and brighter in the sky. Learn why the so-called “supermoon” looks so big when rising — it’s the Moon Illusion, not a true size change.

a full moon in the night sky
A Full moon. Photo by Johr

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:28 a.m. CST; Sunset, 4:40 p.m. CST.  Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.

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Beaver Moon

Moon before sunrise, November 5, 2025
Chart Caption – 2025, November 5: The bright moon is in the west-northwest before sunrise.

The bright moon appears farther westward during this Beaver Moon morning. The lunar orb is opposite the sun this morning at 7:19 a.m. Central Time, while still above the horizon across most of North America.

An hour before sunrise, the moon is in the west-northwest, near Hamal, Aries’ brightest star. Use a binocular to spot the star in the moonlight.

Perigee Moon

The moon is closest to Earth (perigee) at 4:27 p.m. Central Time. When a full moon occurs near perigee, it appears slightly larger and brighter than average. The popular press calls these “supermoons,” and the term often captures public attention. Expect to see many images of the Super Beaver Moon during the next few news and social media cycles.

At perigee, the moon’s apparent size is about 14% larger and marginally brighter — changes that are subtle to the unaided eye. The atmosphere reddens the sun and moon and slightly distorts their shapes when they are near the horizon.

Moon Illusion

scenic view of beach during dawn
Photo Caption – scenic view of beach during dawn (Photo by Alex Montes on Pexels.com)

There is an interesting effect to explore when the full moon, or any lunar phase, is near the horizon — either rising or setting — around sunset or sunrise. The moon, as well as the sun and constellations, appears larger near the horizon than when higher in the sky. This is known as the Moon Illusion.

While not the first to describe the effect, my colleague and close friend, Dr. Carl Wenning, retired from Illinois State University, provided an intriguing explanation. When the moon is near the horizon, it seems farther away, and the lunar orb looks larger than when higher in the sky. We perceive the horizon as more distant than the overhead sky.

To illustrate, Wenning suggests creating an afterimage by briefly looking at a light bulb. Our eyes respond similarly after a camera flash when we “see spots.” The effect is temporary but useful. When viewing a nearby surface, the afterimage looks smaller than when viewed against a distant wall. The afterimage itself is the same size, but it appears larger when seen against a more distant background. The Moon Illusion is explained in the same way — the moon looks larger because it is seen against a more distant horizon than when higher in the sky, which seems closer.

Moon after sunset, November 5, 2025
Chart Caption – 2025, November 5: The Beaver Moon is in the east-northeast after sunset.

If you have the opportunity to see the moon near the horizon, notice how large it appears. The moon rises in the east-northeast near sunset. Watch it as it climbs into the night sky and note its apparent size compared to the distant horizon.

As the season progresses and Orion climbs into the eastern sky, look for the same effect. Early risers can see Orion perform the illusion in the western sky before morning twilight.

If you are outside when the moon is near the horizon during the next few nights, some may attribute its seemingly large size to the “supermoon.” It’s just the Moon Illusion.

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