Arkansas Storm Team Blog: Is it the Beaver Moon or the Hunter’s Moon?

November’s full supermoon peaks in illumination on Wednesday, November 5. It’s the closest full moon of the year in the moon’s orbit around Earth, meaning it’ll be slightly bigger and brighter than a regular full moon. November’s full supermoon is the second supermoon in a series of 4 from October to January of 2026.

There’s some controversy surrounding this November’s full moon name. Most Novembers, the full moon is named the Beaver Moon. But the full moon names in September, October, and November all depend on when the fall equinox occurs. Usually, the Harvest Moon takes place in September, the Hunter’s Moon occurs in October, and November is named the Beaver Moon. However, every 3 years or so, these names are shifted and changed.

The fall equinox can occur anywhere between September 21 and September 24. It’s usually September 22 or 23, but it all depends on the orbit of Earth around the Sun. The Earth’s orbit around the Sun isn’t a perfectly 365-day cycle each year, and that’s why both the fall and spring equinox dates, as well as the dates of the summer solstice and winter solstice, aren’t set to the same day each year.

The closest full moon to the fall equinox is the Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is always followed by the Hunter’s Moon. In 2025, the fall equinox occurred on September 22, which was closer to the October full moon on October 6 as compared to September’s full moon on September 7. So in 2025, October was dubbed the Harvest Moon, and November is therefore the Hunter’s Moon.

The Hunter’s Moon usually signifies the start of hunting season to prepare for winter. While both moon names for November are technically correct in 2025, the Hunter’s Moon is the more accurate name to call this November’s full moon. In 2026, November’s full moon is squarely the Beaver Moon.