If there is a free plan that never fails, it is to look at the sky in search of stars. And if on top of that we get one of those events that turn the sky into a spectacle, all the better. This week, Barcelona is preparing for one of the astronomical highlights of the autumn: the Beaver Supermoon.
Write down the date, because it is not just any full moon. This Wednesday, November 5, what will be the penultimate full moon of the year will coincide with its perigee, that is, its closest point to Earth.
Translation? That we are going to see it in a big way. Specifically, according to calculations by National Geographic and NASA, the moon will be perceived between 14% and 30% larger and brighter than a conventional full moon. In fact, this will be the closest and, therefore, the most spectacular supermoon in all of 2025.
When and how to see it from Barcelona?
Here comes the trick. The exact moment of maximum fullness (when it is 100% full) will occur on Wednesday at 14:19h (peninsular time), according to the National Geographic Institute. Obviously, at that time we will be more aware of the coffee after lunch than of the moon, because it will be in the middle of the day.
But don’t worry, the best time to enjoy it is not that, but just when the show starts: at sunset on Wednesday, November 5.
When the moon starts to peek over the horizon (just after sunset), the famous “lunar illusion” will take place. Having earthly references (the buildings of the city, the silhouette of Collserola, the sea…), our brain will perceive it much bigger. That is the moment to take out the camera.
Why is it called “del Castor”?
We know what you are thinking. No, it’s not that it’s going to be shaped like a rodent or that you’re going to see the beavers of the Besòs howling (as far as we know). The name, like almost all full moons, comes from Native American traditions, popularized by the Farmer’s Almanac.
November was the month when tribes rushed to set beaver traps, just before the swamps froze over. It was the key time to secure pelts for the winter. A bit of a crude origin, yes, but it marked the natural calendar.
The best viewpoints to see it
As always when we talk about stargazing (or supermoons) in Barcelona, we have a clear enemy: light pollution. Although the supermoon will be visible from any balcony or terrace, if you want a complete experience, the ideal is to follow the recommendations of the experts: look for an elevated place and as dark as possible.
In the city, the usual suspects are the Búnkeres del Carmel, the Mirador d’Horta, a high point of Montjuïc or the Aigües road. If you have the opportunity to escape the city to destinations with Starlight certification such as Montsec (Lleida) or areas of Menorca, the show is guaranteed.
But if you stay in Barcelona, simply look for a park with a clear horizon to the east at sunset. Bundle up, be patient and enjoy the most impressive moon of the year.
