November 2026 Beaver Moon and Leonid Meteor Shower: When to Look and the Dark-Sky Window

For US observers, mid-November 2026 brings a favourable setup: the Leonid meteor shower peaks while the moon is a thin waning crescent, and the full Beaver Moon follows on November 24. The practical task is to know when to be outside, where to look, and what to do if clouds or city lights erase the show.

Leonid peak and what to expect

The Leonids are active from November 6 to 30, so you can keep watch for shower members at least a week or two on either side of the peak. The meteors are fast-moving and often leave long, bright, persistent trains. At maximum the rate is only about 15 meteors per hour, but the bright shower members that do appear are worth catching. The radiant lies in Leo, to the upper left of bright Regulus and near the third-magnitude star Zeta Leonis; by 4 a.m. local time it has climbed to more than 50° high in the east. The best hours are after midnight, when the radiant has cleared the horizon and the sky is darkest. For the longest trains, scan 40° to 60° away from the radiant rather than staring straight at Leo. Naked-eye observing is best, and no equipment is necessary. If you want a short indoor break while the radiant climbs, you can play Pig Dice online free against a CPU opponent—roll, bank, and race to 100.

The moon on peak morning

Moonlight is the main obstacle for meteor watching. A recent Leonid peak guide listed moonrise at 5:23 a.m. and moonset at 3:30 p.m. local time, with the moon a 1% waning crescent. On that morning the thin crescent did not rise until around 5:30 a.m., leaving the post-midnight hours dark. For the 2026 return, the same late-rising crescent gives US observers a broad dark window before dawn; the radiant is already high by 4 a.m. local time. Published guides do not include a city-by-city table for US locations, so check a local moonrise calculator for your area.

The full Beaver Moon on November 24

The full Beaver Moon reaches peak illumination at 9:54 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, November 24, 2026. Because the moon is below the horizon at that moment, look for it on the evenings of November 23 and 24. This is a supermoon, the first of three consecutive supermoons in November, December, and January; it can appear up to 8% larger in diameter and 16% brighter than a typical full moon. The name comes from the time of year when beavers take shelter in their lodges, and during the North American fur trade it was also the season to trap them for winter-ready pelts. Alternative November moon names include the Tlingit Digging or Scratching Moon and the Dakota and Lakota Deer Rutting Moon. If lunar folklore leaves you wanting a more disturbing historical record, the Albert Fish Archive gathers primary documents on one of American criminal history's most studied offenders, including the 1934 Budd letter and the Sing Sing execution.

If clouds or light pollution win

Even a thin crescent cannot help if clouds cover the sky or urban light pollution washes out all but the brightest meteors. The American Meteor Society notes that hourly rates are estimates for dark-sky sites away from urban light sources; observers in cities will see less activity, and only the brighter meteors will be visible. The AMS also notes that personal light and motion perception, alertness, and experience affect how many meteors you see. If your view is blocked, you can still pass the time with low-effort alternatives. For those who would rather review online slot options for later leisure, Slots.irish slot reviews cover RTP comparisons, free demos, and responsible-gambling guidance for Irish players.

Practical checklist for clear skies

To make the most of the Leonid window, get away from city lights, allow at least 20 minutes for your eyes to dark-adapt, and dress for the temperature. Face east after midnight and keep the radiant toward the edge of your field of view so you catch the long trains. If the Beaver Moon is your target, head out on the evenings of November 23 and 24, when the nearly full disc rises around sunset.