November Night Sky

November's full moon is called the Beaver Moon.

Full moons often take their names from the traditions of native Americans and European Settlers.  November is that time of year that beavers reinforce 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.

This year brings us a bonus as this our second Supermoon of 2025.  Because it is closer to earth, Perigee, it will appear larger and brighter than usual. 

The best times to look will be tomorrow, Wednesday, November 5th immediately following sunset; or moonset (before sunrise) on Thursday for softer colors and a dramatic horizon view.  See below.

11.19.2021

 

This is not a sunrise.  It is a photo I took at sunrise of the Full Beaver Moon setting in the west, 2021.

This was a nice balance of low sunlight in the foreground from the rising sun behind me to the east and the moon dropping quickly below the western horizon.

Sometimes this stuff happens quickly.

You snooze, you lose...