The Beaver Moon and an Election Day Total Lunar Eclipse!
November 3, 2022
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November’s full Beaver Moon reaches peak illumination in the morning hours of Tuesday, November 8—Election Day! In addition, the Beaver Moon will also be plunged into a total lunar eclipse! Get more information, including Full Moon rise times, why we call it a “Beaver” Moon, and best days by the Moon.
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When to See November’s Full Moon
The Beaver Moon reaches peak illumination in the morning hours of Tuesday, November 8, at 6:02 A.M.EST. Of course, it will be very close to full the night before, so plan to look for it starting on Monday, November 7, just after sunset!
Find out exactly what time the full Moon will appear above the horizon in your area with our Moonrise and Moonset Calculator.
A “Blood Moon” Total Lunar Eclipse
This year, November’s Beaver Moon is accompanied by a total lunar eclipse! During a lunar eclipse, the Moon, Sun, and Earth stand in a line with the Earth in the middle, causing our planet’s shadow to be cast onto the Moon. This gives the full Moon a reddish, coppery hue, as well as the nickname “Blood Moon.” Read more about what a Blood Moon is—and isn’t.
This total lunar eclipse will be visible from most of North America, reaching its maximum at approximately 6:00 A.M. Eastern Time on Tuesday, November 8. Be sure to convert to your local time zone to find out when to look for the eclipse! In the Eastern U.S. and Canada, the Moon will be very close to setting at this time, so try to find a location with a clear view of the western horizon.
Why Is It Called the Beaver Moon?
For decades, the Almanac has referenced the monthly full Moons with names tied to early Native American, Colonial American, and European folklore. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred and through all of the Moon’s phases—not only the full Moon.
The Beaver Moon
Why the “Beaver” Moon? This is the time of year when beavers begin to take shelter in their lodges, having laid up sufficient stores of food for the long winter ahead. During the time of the fur trade in North America, it was also the season to trap beavers for their thick, winter-ready pelts.Â
Alternative November Moon Names
November’s Moon names highlight the actions of animals preparing for winter and the onset of the colder days ahead. Digging (or Scratching) Moon, a Tlingit name, evokes the image of animals foraging for fallen nuts and shoots of green foliage, and of bears digging their winter dens. The Dakota and Lakota term Deer Rutting Moon refers to the time when deer are seeking out mates and the Algonquin Whitefish Moon describes the spawning time for this fish.
In reference to the seasonal change of November, this Moon has been called the Frost Moon by the Cree and Assiniboine peoples and the Freezing Moon by the Anishinaabe—for good reason, as winter is right around the corner!
Did you know: The spin-time of the Moon on its own axis is identical to the time it takes the Moon to revolve around Earth, which is why the Moon always keeps almost exactly the same face toward us.
How much would you weigh on the Moon? Just multiply your weight (it doesn’t matter if it’s in pounds or kilograms) by 0.165. You’d weigh about 80 percent less!
Learn more about Full Moon Names and share your thoughts about this month’s Moon below!Â
I always find this information helpful, interesting and intriguing ….but why is it no longer printed in the Farmers Almanac? I'm pretty sure it used to be, but I just went digging through two years worth and could not find this information....am I missing it? Or is it a "digital bonus" only? Thanks!
Thanks for asking, Cyndee. We produce two versions of the paperback Almanac, one for $7.99 and one for $8.95. The version at the slightly higher price has 32 pages of Reference material at the back (like the Calendar and Weather Forecast pages, the Reference pages each have a black tab on them that you can see as a black “line” when you look sideways at the issue). The $8.95 version is sold at bookstores, the $7.99 on newsstands, checkouts, our own magazine stands, and the like. We have different price points to serve different readerships and channels of distribution.
BTW, the extra Reference section is also bound into the the $9.99 “large print” version and the hardcover version ($15.95). We say “large print” because the pages are slightly larger and the paper is better quality (whiter) so the ink is easier to read. This is not “large print” as it is found, say, in a library book.
I hope this does not add confusion but helps to clarify. You can purchase any version of the Almanac at Almanac.com/store and the “large print” version on Amazon.com.
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