Have you ever seen the eclipse of a Beaver Moon? SC will soon have that chance. What to know

Sarah Claire McDonald

This year, a full moon will occur on Tuesday, the same day as elections are set to take place.

This full moon is called the “Beaver Moon.” Not only is there a full moon event leading into Election Day, but the moon will also be plunged into a total lunar eclipse.

A view of the Beaver Moon eclipse from Indian Trail, NC on Friday, November 19, 2021. The eclipse was the longest of its kind in 580 years.
A view of the Beaver Moon eclipse from Indian Trail, NC on Friday, November 19, 2021. The eclipse was the longest of its kind in 580 years.

The Beaver Moon will reach its peak illumination Tuesday morning at 6:02 a.m. but will still be visible Monday evening, according to Space.com.

November’s full moon will also display a total lunar eclipse; thus, making the full moon a blood moon. This means that during this lunar eclipse, the sun, moon and Earth all align. The Earth is located in between, allowing the planet’s shadow to cast onto the moon, making it appear reddish in color. This is what earns a full moon the nickname “Blood Moon.”

In South Carolina, the eclipse will begin around 3:02 a.m., reach its maximum at 5:59 a.m. and end at 6:56 p.m. This equals a total eclipse duration of 3 hours, 54 minutes, according to timeanddate.com.

The Beaver Moon got its name because “this is the time of year when beavers begin to take shelter in their lodges, having laid up sufficient stores of food for the long winter ahead. During the time of the fur trade in North America, it was also the season to trap beavers for their thick, winter-ready pelts,” said Farmers’ Almanac.

This full moon also has several other nicknames in just North America alone. In addition, it has been dubbed the Frost Moon, Frosty Moon or Snow Moon, according to NASA, as well as the Freezing Moon, Whitefish Moon, Deer Rutting Moon, and Digging Moon, according to Farmers’ Almanac.

Remember, this full moon will only stay reddish in color during the duration of the total lunar eclipse. This specific eclipse is safe to look at with no eye protection.

Timeanddate.com will also provide a digital live stream for those who wish to remain indoors. The live stream can be viewed on their website at https://www.timeanddate.com/live/eclipse-lunar-2022-november-8.

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