If stargazing is your jam, then you’ve got something big to look forward to before 2025 says adios. Yup, astrophiles, here’s the good news you’ve been waiting for! We’ve got not one, not two, but three whole supermoons sashaying in to the sky in the coming weeks. The Hunter’s Moon, Beaver’s Moon and The Cold Moon – in the order of appearance. So, when are these set to dazzle the skies? Let’s find out!
Supermoon #1: Catch The Hunter’s Moon In October!
October is just a couple of days away, and this marvel will make its grand entry on the seventh day of October. Yup, October 7 it is! Some also love to refer to the October’s full moon as “Travel Moon,” or the “Dying Grass Moon.” Now, why “Hunter’s Moon”? According to American folklore, this moon signals the arrival of colder months and hence it used to be a sign for tribes to stock up meat for the wintry days. And as for the colour, the hunter’s moon will appear more orange, similar to autumn leaves that are being shed. Sizewise, the Hunter’s Moon will be approximately 16% larger than the typical moon.
Also read: 16 Unmissable Celestial Events UAE Will Witness In 2025
Supermoon #2: Beaver’s Moon Will Appear In November!
This year, the full moon will grace the skies on November 5th. Had this moon arrived five days earlier, we could have called it the perfect wrap-up to Halloween, because there’s something eerie about the moon. Can’t exactly put my finger on what it is though. Let’s just say that this is the kind of moon that filmmakers generally love to kickstart horror movies with. November’s Beaver Moon sprinkles some mystery into the skies too. Well, some believe it refers to Native Americans setting beaver traps this time of year, whereas a few others say it’s inspired by the creatures themselves. Yup, beavers who get are hard at work (beavering away, now you know where this phrase comes from!) during winter, building dams before the frost bites. In China, they prefer to call it “The White Moon”. A few other popular names by which Beaver’s Moon is referred to are Frost Moon, Snow Moon, or even the rather poetic Mourning Moon.
Supermoon #3: The Cold Moon Arrives In December!
The moon that belongs to the coldest month of the year is indeed The Cold Moon. It’s also the longest month of the year, hence called The Long Nights Moon. This supermoon is occasionally referred to as The Yule Moon as well. You can catch the Cold Moon in the UAE skies on December 5, exactly a month after Beaver’s Moon makes its grand appearance.
Also read: 5 Camping Spots In Dubai That Are A Must-Visit
It’s Not Over – Meteor Showers On The Way!
The show’s not yet over, sit back – there area a few exciting cameos to look forward to in the coming months. Thanks to tiny bits of comet and asteroid dust that collide with Earth’s atmosphere, burning up in streaks of light, stargazers will be treated to nature’s very own fireworks display. So, in the last quarter of 2025, the UAE will be able to witness three meteor showers. Here are the dates:
Orionids Meteor Shower – 21 October
Pull an all-nighter on October 21, and you’d be able to spot the shower right after midnight all the way until dawn of 22 October. They say you can spot up to 20 meteors per hour.
Leonids Meteor Shower – 17 November
This shower has the capacity of producing almost 1000 meteors evert hour. Nope, not kidding! This year, though, in the UAE the maximum we can witness is 15 meteors per hour.
Geminids Meteor Shower – 14 December
One of the strongest showers of the year, creating over 100 meters per hour if the environment is conducive, the Geminids shower will end 2025 with a bang.
Whether it’s the supermoons (Hunter’s Moon, Beaver Moon, The Cold Moon) or the meteor showers that you are most excited about – one thing is certain, the next few months would turn any casual sky-watcher into a full-fledged stargazing enthusiast.
You may also like: The Darkest Spot To Go Stargazing In UAE – The ‘Milky Way Spot’
