Previous Next

A full Beaver Moon and lunar eclipse are coming Monday

USA TODAY 11/29/2020 Susan Miller, USA TODAY

NASA spots water on sunlit part of moon for first time

USA TODAY See more videos

What to watch next

Far left unimpressed with Biden's COVID economy stimulus plan Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla. and former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus join 'Hannity' FOX News
See how Trump could get booted from his next home CNN's Randi Kaye examines how President Donald Trump's plan to make Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, his permanent residence may violate his 1993 agreement with the town. CNN
The full story of 'Crossfire Hurricane' exposed FOX News contributor Jason Chaffetz and former acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell join 'Hannity' to discuss FOX News

UP NEXT

Feeling pandemic-stressed, holiday-harried, as busy as a beaver? Look out your window in the wee hours Monday: There's a celestial spectacle with your name on it.

Just before sunrise, the final lunar eclipse of the year will occur as the moon passes through the outer part of Earth's shadow. And it's not just any moon – it's the full "beaver moon" shimmering above.

The November moon got its name for the time of year when beavers scurried to their shelters ahead of winter, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. It was also the season to trap beavers for their thick pelts during the fur trade, the Almanac notes.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

The last astronomical event of November will be a penumbral lunar eclipse, similar to the eclipse that took place in early July in North America, according to Accuweather.

"During a penumbral lunar eclipse, the moon passes through the Earth’s outer shadow, called the penumbra, and misses the darker inner shadow, which is known as the umbra," Accuweather says. "This is different from a total lunar eclipse when the entire moon passes through the darker umbra."

a star in the dark: A full moon is pictured in the Lanus, Buenos Aires province, Argentina, on October 31, 2020.

Penumbral lunar eclipses are subtle and not as easy to spot as the more show-stopping total lunar eclipses, according to space.com, because the moon only gets slightly darker.

But the event is worth your while, astrophysicist Jackie Faherty told the New York Times. “Take the lunar challenge. Really look at it. Bask in the moonlight and see how it feels. Can you perceive the difference?”

Where to catch full moons: Lunacy! We have 13 full moons to look forward to in 2020. Here's when you can see them.

Strawberry moon: Look out for the Strawberry Moon on Friday: Here's what it is and how to see it

The entire eclipse will take place in about 4.5 hours, starting around 2:32 a.m. EST. But the moon should be at peak illumination around 4:30 a.m. EST, Accuweather says.

Who can watch? All of North America, South America, Australia and most of Asia, depending on the weather.

The November full Moon has other monikers, the Almanac says: the Frost Moon, the Freezing Moon and the Digging or Scratching Moon, dubbed for animals foraging for nuts among fallen leaves.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A full Beaver Moon and lunar eclipse are coming Monday

Go to MSN Home

A full Beaver Moon and lunar eclipse are coming Monday

More From USA TODAY