The Hunter's Moon 2025: Meet The Biggest Supermoon of 2025
Beavers, beware! The hunters have taken over the Supermoon. This year's November Full Moon is called the Hunter's Moon, instead of the usual Beaver Moon. As if that weren't enough, it's also the biggest Supermoon of the year, so the hunters are truly in luck. Use the Sky Tonight app to find out when the Supermoon will be visible from your location, and read on to learn all about this lunar takeover.
Contents
- When is the Full Moon in November 2025?
- November Full Moon in Aries
- Supermoon in November 2025 — the biggest Full Moon in 2025
- November Full Moon name
- When is the next Full Moon 2025?
- November Full Moon 2025: Conclusion
When is the Full Moon in November 2025?
The next Full Moon takes place on November 5, at 13:19 GMT (8:19 a.m. EST). A Moon appears full when it is directly opposite the Sun, with the Earth in between. This moment is called “opposition” in astronomy. Since this happens at an exact time for everywhere on Earth, the Moon might be below the horizon in some places.
Don’t worry, though — to the eye, the Moon will look fully lit all night, even the day before and after the exact date. Just check when the Full Moon will rise in your place to catch it. You can use the Moon Phases calculator to find the exact time for your location.
Moon phases in November 2025
- Full Moon: November 5, 13:19 GMT (8:19 a.m. EST)
- Last Quarter: November 12, 05:28 GMT (12:28 a.m. EST)
- New Moon: November 20, 06:47 GMT (1:47 a.m. EST)
- First Quarter: November 28, 06:59 GMT (01:59 a.m. EST)
Did you know that there are eight traditionally recognized Moon phases? The four major phases are the Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter, and Last Quarter. In between, there are four minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous, and Waning Crescent. The major Moon phases mark specific moments, while the minor phases span about 7.4 days, with the lunar appearance changing gradually over that time.
Track the Moon’s phases using our interactive lunar calendar — perfect for planning your stargazing nights ahead. To check lunar visibility instantly at any time, get the free Sky Tonight app and keep the lunar calendar right in your pocket!
New Moon in November 2025
The New Moon occurs on November 20, at 06:47 GMT (01:47 a.m. EST). It brings ideal stargazing conditions, with no bright moonlight to interfere. In 2025, just three days before the New Moon, the Leonid meteor shower will peak, offering up to 20 meteors per hour. The moonless nights in November are also perfect for spotting deep-sky objects like the Pleiades or the Andromeda Galaxy. Want to find the best targets for your location? Use the Visible Tonight feature in the Sky Tonight app to plan your observations.
November Full Moon in Aries
The November Full Moon can appear in one of three constellations: most often in Taurus, occasionally in Aries, and rarely in Cetus. In 2025, it will shine in Aries.
Bright stars near the Full Moon in November
There won't be just one bright star near the November Full Moon — you might spot the shining Pleiades star cluster! Also known as the Seven Sisters, the cluster has been admired for centuries and is one of the most famous deep-sky objects. On November 6, just one night after the Full Moon, the Moon will be at 0°48' from the Pleiades. However, the brightness of the Moon may make it difficult to see the cluster with the naked eye, so binoculars are recommended.
Supermoon in November 2025 — the biggest Full Moon in 2025
The Full Moon on November 5, 2025, will be a Supermoon — and not just any Supermoon, but the biggest one of the year. It will appear 7.9% larger and 16% brighter than a typical Full Moon.
A Supermoon is a Full Moon that occurs near perigee, the Moon’s closest point to Earth in its orbit. It looks slightly bigger and brighter in the sky, but the difference is subtle — most people won't notice it with the naked eye. But don't be discouraged, enjoy the November Supermoon just like any other Full Moon, it's always worth watching!
More: Supermoon explained in pictures.
November Full Moon name
Beaver Moon meaning
The Beaver Moon — one of the most amusing Full Moon names — comes from Native American tribes, who used to give names to the Full Moons based on peculiar features of every particular month.
November is when beavers get busy building dams and storing food for winter, which is why some believe this Full Moon was named in their honor. Another theory suggests the name comes from hunters setting beaver traps this time of year to collect warm fur for the colder months.
Speaking of which — in 2025, the hunters win! Instead of the Beaver Moon, this year’s November Full Moon is called the Hunter’s Moon. Sorry, beavers, better luck in 2026!
Hunter’s Moon meaning
The Hunter’s Moon is not associated with a particular month. In short, it is the Full Moon that comes right after the Harvest Moon.
Hunter’s Moon and Harvest Moon
You might recall that the Harvest Moon is the Full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which comes in September in the Northern Hemisphere and March in the Southern Hemisphere. The Harvest Moon may occur either in September or October (and in March or April in the Southern Hemisphere).
The Hunter’s Moon is the first Full Moon to follow the Harvest Moon. This means it may take place in October or November (in the Southern Hemisphere – in April or May). In most years, the Northern Hemisphere's Hunter's Moon occurs in October, but 2025 is one of those rare years when the November Full Moon takes the title. The last time this happened was five years ago, and it won't happen again until 2028!
Why is it called the Hunter’s Moon?
The farmers had traditionally finished reaping their fields under the light of the Harvest Moon. By the time of the next Full Moon, the fields were clean, so the hunters could easily see the animals prowling in search of food before the winter. Moreover, at this time of the month, the Moon rises at around dusk and sets at around dawn. The moonlight allowed the hunters to track down the prey into the late evening.
Alternative November Full Moon names
The other November Full Moon names that came from Native American culture include Frost Moon and Freezing Moon – obviously because the weather is getting cold at this time of the year. In different parts of the world, you can find such names as:
- Chinese: White Moon
- Celtic: Dark Moon
- Wiccan: Snow Moon
- Cherokee: Trading Moon
- Southern Hemisphere: Corn Moon, Milk Moon, Flower Moon, Hare Moon
When is the next Full Moon 2025?
The next Full Moon after November 5 will occur on December 4, 2025. It will be the last Full Moon of the year. Learn more about the December Full Moon in our dedicated article.
We’ve listed all the Full Moons in 2025 in the colorful infographic. Find out how they’ve got their traditional names and what’s special about them.
When is the next Beaver Moon?
We’ll have to wait until November 24, 2026, for the next Beaver Moon to come. In 2025, the Full Moon in November will be right next after the Harvest Moon, and therefore, according to tradition, will be called Hunter’s Moon.
When is the next Hunter’s Moon?
In 2025, the Hunter’s Moon occurs on April 13 in the Southern Hemisphere and on November 5 in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2026, the Hunter’s Moon occurs on May 1 in the Southern Hemisphere and on October 26 in the Northern Hemisphere.
November Full Moon 2025: Conclusion
The Full Moon occurs on November 5, at 13:19 GMT (8:19 a.m. EST). Unlike most November Full Moons, it’s not called the Beaver Moon — it takes the title of the Hunter’s Moon instead. It will also be the biggest Supermoon of 2025, so the Moon will appear bigger and brighter than usual. The Full Moon is a nice and easy target to observe, so it's an ideal starting point for anyone new to stargazing. To enhance your experience, arm yourself with a stargazing app like Sky Tonight and explore the night sky adorned with our shining natural satellite!
