The last full moon of fall in 2026 is the Beaver Moon. The moon will be full, larger, and brighter than usual on Tuesday, November 24, in the Montreal sky.
It will be a chance to gaze at the moon with a touch of poetry, to enjoy a few very romantic evenings under the golden light of the supermoon, and to forget that winter is fast approaching in Montreal.
The supermoon will peak on November 24 at 9:54 a.m. Not the best time to see it, but the sun will set at 4:16 p.m., so the moon will rise early enough to still be “super.”
This is the first supermoon in a series of three; the full moons in November, December, and January will all be yellower and larger than usual.
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WHAT IS A SUPERMOON?
The full moon in November 2026 will appear larger and brighter than a typical moon—with an orange hue that will make it look a little golden.
In addition to being a great photo opportunity, a supermoon is an astronomical phenomenon known as “perigee.” When the Moon—which orbits the Earth in an elliptical path—is at its closest point to our planet, it appears brighter and much larger to us.
It’s also considered an excellent omen—and we need it, since Mercury is in retrograde.
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THE BEAVER MOON
The Beaver Moon is the name given to the full moon in January in the English, American, and Canadian Gregorian calendars. According to the Farmers’ Almanac, this name brings together and reflects the Indigenous, colonial, and European semiotics of North America.
This is the time of year when beavers begin to retreat to their dens, after stockpiling supplies and preparing for winter during the summer and fall months. In the days of the trappers, this was also the time to catch beavers for their fur, which had thickened in preparation for the cold season.
Among the Indigenous Nations of North America, it’s also known as the November full moon;
- Digging/Scratching Moon (Tlingit) / It’s also the time of year when animals scratch the ground to find and bury winter supplies
- Deer Rutting Moon (Dakota, Lakota)
- Whitefish Moon (Algonquin)
- Frost Moon (Cree, Assiniboine)
- Freezing Moon, Lune Gelée (Anishinaabe)
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