A special Moon will be lighting up the sky tonight
With the nights becoming ever longer, the moon is becoming more important to all of us as a source of light.
However, tonight it will be shining extra bright thanks to the Full Beaver Moon.
As the last full Moon of the year, it will be the final one before the winter solstice.
Turns out, this is how it gets its funky name – the moon comes at the same time that beavers hunker down in their dens for winter with their stockpiles of food.
Another theory is that the moon’s name comes from Native American tradition, as it is at this time of year they would set traps to catch beavers and use their furs during the cold season.
Dr Darren Baskill from the University of Sussex opened up to BBC Science Focus about the rare moon.
“While the origins of such names have often been lost over the years, beavers are most active at dawn and dusk,” he shared.
“They can be seen beavering away overnight by the light of this aptly named full Moon.
“Beavers are especially visible at this time of the year as the absence of leaves on trees and shrubs makes them easier to spot.”
However, Dr Baskill confirmed that the best time to see the Beaver Moon was actually this morning.
However, there is still a chance – peak time will be just after it rises this evening, so from 4pm onwards.
Dr Baskill explained: “You have a second opportunity to admire the full Moon hugging the horizon when it rises in the north-east as the Sun sets later that same day.
“Full Moons always occur when the Moon is on the opposite side of the sky to the Sun, and it is fully illuminated by sunshine – which is where the name ‘full Moon’ originates.”
The next time you will be able to see a Beaver Moon is expected to be 15 November 2024.
