November’s full beaver moon will shine this weekend

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November’s full moon, known as the beaver moon, will shine in the night sky starting Sunday, providing a dazzling spectacle.

The moon will be at its peak in the early hours of Monday, when it reaches the top of its full phase at 4:16 a.m. ET. According to Earth Sky.

“The next full moon (beaver moon) “The full Moon will look familiar, but the specific features will always vary slightly from one moon to the next,” Dr. Noah Petrou, head of NASA’s Planetary Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Laboratory, said in an email.

Because of liberation He said – The slight movement of the moon changes the angle at which skygazers see the only side facing the Earth – Full moons vary from month to month.

Local weather conditions allow people north or south of the equator to see the beaver moon, Pietro said, as the celestial body appears full to the human eye for about a day before and after its full phase.

For an ideal view of the moon, Pietro recommends finding a space with a clear view of the sky — away from trees, buildings, and bright lights. Although no equipment is needed to observe the moon, a pair of binoculars or a telescope can help refine fine details, he said.

“When people look at the moon, I hope they first realize that it is the same moon that their grandparents, great-grandparents, etc. saw,” Pietro said. “Thousands of years ago, humans looked at the moon, and it looked similar for all of human history.”

Pietro also pointed to two current NASA space operations related to the Moon. NASA lunar reconnaissance orbit, It has been orbiting the Moon for more than 14 years, creating a 3D map of its surface. the Artemis II mission The company aims to launch in late 2024 to send four astronauts on a trip around the moon and back, the first attempt to fly humans near Earth’s closest neighbors since 1972.

The name Beaver Moon is thought to be a reference to the appearance of this full moon when the hardworking animal retires to its home in anticipation of winter. When the fur trade flourished in North America 1500s to 1800sNovember was also beaver hunting season due to the animal’s thick coat at this time of year. According to the old farmers’ almanac.

The full moon in November was also referred to by the Tlingit as the digger moon, because it is the time when animals begin to prepare for winter. The Cree people called this lunar event the Frost Moon, and the Anishinaabe people referred to it as the Freeze Moon due to the proximity of cold winter temperatures, according to the calendar.

The remaining celestial events of 2023

The last moon of the year is the cold moon on December 26. According to the Farmers’ Almanac.

When it comes to meteors, blazing leones are expected to be seen in the night sky until the shower ends on December 2, according to Science Daily. American Meteor Society. If you’re curious to see more, the next meteor shower will peak next month:

● Gemini: December 13-14

● Ursids: December 21-22