See the ‘Beaver Moon’ shine brightly over LA along with the most epic lunar eclipse of the century.
Skygazers will be over the moon to hear that this week they’ll be in for a celestial double act as the bright ‘Beaver Moon‘ inches towards peak fullness on Wednesday night and almost completely disappears into the Earth’s shadow before dawn on Friday, November 19. This near-total lunar eclipse will last 3 hours, 28 minutes, and 23 seconds (a total eclipse usually lasts around 6 hours), making it the longest partial eclipse in 580 years, according to Space.com.
The Beaver Moon lunar eclipse on Nov. 19 will be the longest of the century. Here are its stages explained. https://t.co/6BYP1bPpHN pic.twitter.com/r6sL6vqIh7
— SPACE.com (@SPACEdotcom) November 15, 2021
What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs when a full moon passes through the Earth’s darkest umbral shadow. This will only be a partial eclipse as 97.4% of the moon’s diameter will be covered by the inner umbral shadow at maximum eclipse. Viewers will only see the most southern tip of the globe peaking out of the darkness.
How to see it
For the eclipse, West Coast residents can look up at the skies with binoculars from around 11 p.m. PDT, reaching its maximum at 1 a.m. and ending at around 4 a.m. Due to the refraction of sunlight through the Earth’s atmosphere, the moon will appear redder than usual, making for a spectacular show. As for our gorgeous satellite, you’ll be able to see it shine brightly from Wednesday until Saturday, from moonrise to moonset.
Why is it called the ‘Beaver Moon’
This is based on Native American naming traditions, which often reflect the changing landscapes and patterns of nature. November’s full moon is known by many names, but it’s known as the ‘Beaver Moon‘ since it’s a time when beavers are seen getting ready for winter, according to Farmers’ Almanac.