On Sunday, the November supermoon will come closer than any other in the last 68 years. This won't happen again until November 25, 2034.
According to Space.com, "supermoon" is not a technical term, rather it is a name given by popculture to describe a full moon that occurs when the satellite is at its closest point to Earth during the lunar orbit.
But did you know that the November supermoon is also tagged as the "Beaver Moon?"
As explained by Christian Science Monitor, during the old days, beaver trappers of the Algonquin Native American tribes would set their bait right around the time when the November full moon is about to rise. Thus, the name "Beaver Moon" was born.
The Old Farmer's Almanac states:
November's full Moon was called the Beaver Moon by both the colonists and the Algonquin tribes because this was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs.
Aside from naming it the "Beaver Moon," native Americans also called in the "Frost Moon," the "White Moon," the "Milk Moon" and "the Flower Moon."
Meanwhile, the November supermoon is the second in a series of three consecutive supermoons in 2016. The first one was seen in October, and the last will occur in December. NASA states that the supermoon, or perigee full moon (technical name) can be as much as 14% bigger and 30% brighter than an apogee full moon.
But what makes the November special is that it will align with perigee within just two hours. The reason for this rare proximity is because the Moon's orbit around Earth is slightly elliptical.
Sky and Telescope states that the moon will appear 8% larger across and 16% greater in area than average. But the difference cannot be viewed in full unless "you're a very careful Moon-watcher."