Beaver Moon 2019: Here’s what you need to know

It’s that time of the month again, moon lovers; it’s full moon time. The Full Beaver’s Moon – which always follows October’s Hunter’s Moon – will shine bright and light up the night sky tonight.

Head out somewhere dark, somewhere away from all the light population; because the Beaver moon is set to light up the night sky with an eerie glow.

Don’t worry if you miss it tonight; the full Beaver moon is usually visible for around three days. It peaks tonight, but you’d still be able to see some of it on Wednesday 13 November as well.

Why is it called Beaver moon?

The names of full moons are derived from the 1930s Maine Farmers Almanac. It uses Native American names each for month’s full moon. The name was derived from both colonists and Algonquin-speaking tribes.

The Beaver’s Moon – also known as the Frost moon or Geese-Going Moon – refers to the time of the year when beavers prepare for the winter, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.

According to some sources, the Beaver Moon for November is named after beavers because this is the time they become particularly active building their winter dams in preparation for the cold season.

The significance of the Full Beaver Moon

It was during the time of the Beaver full moon, the early days of November, when farmers set beaver traps before the swamps frozen over, to ensure a supply of warm beaver furs before winter starts.

Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter. It is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon.”

Farmer’s Almanac

According to NASA, the full Moon (purnima) in the month of Kartik, this full Moon (Kartik Purnima) is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, for various different reasons.

In Laos, this full Moon corresponds with the Boun That Luang Festival; a three-day celebration of the oldest and most highly acclaimed of the Buddhist temples in Laos, Pha That Luang, located in the capital city, Vientiane.

When is the Full Beaver Moon?

This month, the moment when the Harvest Moon is exactly 180 degrees opposite the Sun in ecliptic longitude falls on Tuesday, 12 November 2019, at 13:34 UTC, or 15:34 South African Standard Time.

Yes, we realise that it’s during daylight hours; but you’ll be able to see the full effect of the full moon until sunrise the following morning, which for 13 November should be around 5:12.

When is the next full moon?

You’ll only have to wait another month. The next full moon will appear on 12 December. It is known as Cold Moon; named after the winter cold that grips the northern hemisphere during this time of the year.

It is also called the Long Nights Moon because it coincides with the winter solstice.

December is the month when winter truly begins in most of the Northern Hemisphere. Most of the ancient Full Moon names are related to the low temperatures and darkness of December. The most common name is the Cold Moon, while another is Long Night Moon.

TimeAndDate