Illinois residents will be able to view perhaps the largest and brightest supermoon of 2025 in less than two weeks.
Nicknamed the Beaver Moon, it will be at its closest to Earth all year, making the moon especially bright to behold, according to EarthSky.
Here's how Illinois residents can view the phenomenon.
When is the full moon in November 2025?
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, is when the moon reaches peak illumination.
Dates of the moon's phases in November
* 🌓 First Quarter: Oct. 29.
* 🌕 Full Moon: Nov. 5.
* 🌗 Last Quarter: Nov. 12.
* 🌑 New Moon: Nov. 20.
* 🌓 First Quarter: Nov. 28.
Why is it called the Beaver Moon?
The Beaver Moon takes its name from early Native American tribes as well as American colonists, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, when beavers begin sheltering in their lodges after gathering enough food to last the winter. Fur trappers, the almanac stated, used this time to hunt beavers for their pelts.
November's full moon also known as the 'Frost Moon'
Other names for November's full moon from Native American tribes include the Whitefish Moon, the Deer Rutting Moon, and Frost Moon.
What is a supermoon?
November's full moon will be especially bright and shine for days, even though the "super" in supermoon often has more to do with its proximity to Earth and less, some say, than how it looks in size.
"Supermoons happen when a new moon or a full moon coincides with perigee," writes NASA, which means the moon is at its closest point to Earth all month.
That's because of how the moon orbits our planet.
What causes supermoons?
"The moon's orbit around the earth is not a circle but an ellipse," explained Dr. Catherine Pilachowski in an earlier message to IndyStar.
Pilachowski, who serves as professor of Astronomy at Indiana University, said the moon's distance from earth changes throughout the year.
"When the full moon coincides with the moon at perigee we have a supermoon," Pilachowski said.
November's supermoon will be closest all year
November's supermoon will be especially bright because it will be the closest full moon all year, which, to be fair, is nearly over with.
Even so, November's supermoon will be more than 2,000 miles closer than it was in October, at a total distance of 221,823 miles from Earth, according to NASA.
How big are supermoons?
Supermoons can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year.
Visually, that might not leave much of an impression, but the proximity of a supermoon has an effect on Earth, causing higher tides than normal.
Will skies be clear in Illinois during the November supermoon?
While it's still too early for the National Weather Service to give its forecast for Nov. 5, AccuWeather is predicting clouds and temperatures in the mid-to-high 40s across northern and central Illinois. Meanwhile, the weather is expected to be clear and in the low 40s in southern Illinois.
Midwest weather tends to be fickle, of course, so keep an eye on the forecast the closer we get to Nov. 5.
When will moon rise on Nov. 5 in Illinois?
Moonrise will happen in Illinois by roughly 4:27 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, crossing the meridian at 11:10 p.m. before setting at 6:42 a.m. Thursday.
What time is the full moon Nov. 5, 2025?
The moon will shine its brightest when it reaches peak illumination at 7:19 a.m. CT, Nov. 5, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer's Almanac online.
Orionids meteor shower can still be seen into November
The Orionids meteor shower, which stem from Hailey's Comet, peaked Oct. 21 but will stretch on for another few weeks until Nov. 22.
Astronomers say late October is still best time to watch these meteors, which can streak by at 20 per hour.
Free astronomy apps to view stars, planets, constellations
The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations.
* SkyView Lite for iPhone | Google Play
* Star Walk 2 for iPhone | Google Play
* Star Chart for iPhone | Google Play
* NASA for iPhone | Google Play
Best places to stargaze in Illinois
The Milky Way can best be viewed somewhere far away from bright city lights. Find a dark, safe spot out in the country where you can see more stars in the sky.
State parks and campgrounds are your best bet for clear stargazing, in locations such as Campsite 26 at Apple River Canyon State Park and the Area 4 Parking Lot at Iroquois County State Wildlife Area. A full list of the best stargazing spots in Illinois can be found on the Department of Natural Resources website.
For those in Chicago, stars will be more visible on the city lakefront, the Palos Preserves in Willow Springs and the 606 Trail at 1801 N. Ridgeway, according to a list compiled by the Adler Planetarium.
Full moon schedule 2025
Here's the schedule for the remaining full moons in 2025: