Pafos Press 25 November 2023
The penultimate full moon of 2023, or the "beaver moon" as it's also known, will light up the sky on November 27. The next day, Saturday November 28, we will have the opportunity to observe a partial lunar eclipse. The phenomenon will begin at 21:01 as the Moon enters Earth's umbra, but may not be immediately visible to the naked eye.
As Forbes reports, the "beaver moon" will appear larger and for about 15-20 minutes will be orange. This is because we see it through the densest part of the Earth's atmosphere. Long-wavelength red and orange light travel more easily through the atmosphere than short-wavelength blue light, which hits more particles and is scattered.
Why is it called the "beaver moon"
According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the "beaver moon" got its name from Native Americans. Full moons take their names from the natural phenomena and habits of animals at that particular time. In November, beavers begin to retreat to their nests after they have gathered enough food to last them through the winter.
The next full moon will occur on December 26 - the first full moon of the winter and the last of the year.
SOURCE: Forbes, ERT
