November Night Sky

This month’s full Moon, also called the Beaver Moon, includes a total lunar eclipse.

BONUS!

NASA Image

Starting at about 3 AM on the east coast the Earth’s shadow will begin to slowly creep across the Moon’s surface, reaching peak eclipse around 5 AM here in Wisconsin.  At this point, the Moon will take on an eerie reddish color, with 100% of its surface fully eclipsed by Earth’s shadow.

During a lunar eclipse the moon can take on a a red hue that is a consequence of the light from the sun hitting its disk after being bent around the earth by our planet's atmosphere which filters out blue light from the color spectrum.

This is the second and final lunar eclipse of 2022 with the previous eclipse occurring on May 16.  The next lunar eclipse, and the first of 2023, will occur on May 6.  This only a partial eclipse which will make it easier to miss.

Full moons often take their names from the traditions of native Americans and European
settlers.  November is the time of year that beavers retire to their lodges for the duration of
winter.  As a consequence of their pelts being prime this was also the time of year that fur
traders trapped beavers.

The Lakota people recognized this as the Deer Rutting Moon, Cree and Assiniboine called this the Frost Moon and with the spawning of this fish species in November the Algonquin called this the Whitefish Moon.

Fingers-crossed for cold, clear skies.