November’s Beaver Moon to Shine Brightly for Skygazers

Skygazers are in for a treat as NASA announces that November’s Beaver Moon will be visible in all its glory for three days, from Saturday night to Tuesday morning. Although it will only reach its peak brightness for a short period, the full Moon will captivate observers during this time.

During a full Moon, the Earth is positioned between the Moon and the Sun, resulting in the Moon’s complete illumination by sunlight as seen from our perspective. This positioning will allow skygazers to witness the radiant brilliance of the Beaver Moon with their naked eyes.

NASA advises giving your eyes sufficient time to adjust to fully appreciate the lunar spectacle. Observers may be able to spot significant impact craters on the Moon depending on their eyesight. To get a closer look, binoculars with a magnification of at least 7 can reveal large mountain ridges and intricate patterns on the Moon’s surface. For an even more detailed view, a telescope can unveil crater chains and cracks formed due to cooled and contracted lava in the Moon’s basins.

While the Beaver Moon will offer ample opportunities to observe the moon’s features up close, NASA suggests exploring other lunar phases for a comprehensive view. November’s full Moon is known by various names, including the Moon before Yule, Frost Moon, and Frosty Moon. The name Beaver Moon stems from the season when beavers retreat to their lodges for winter.

This astronomical event holds significance across different cultures and regions. Moon before Yule indicates its occurrence before the Yule holiday, deeply rooted in early European traditions celebrating the winter solstice. In northeastern North America, it is also referred to as the Frost, Frosty, or Snow Moon, drawing inspiration from the frosts and early snowfalls that commonly begin during this period.