Skywatchers will enjoy a rare treat when the partial lunar eclipse covering the Full Beaver Moon light up the sky on Monday, November 30. The eclipse is expected between 2:32 a.m. and 6:53 a.m. The peak viewing time is 4:30 a.m. EST when the moon is at its fullest. 

This is the final lunar eclipse this year. It will appear directly over North and South America, the Pacific Ocean, and neighboring regions on November 29 and 30 for 4 hours and 21 minutes. It is the last and the longest of the year. 

November’s annual full moon is known as the "Beaver Moon.” This full moon is the last one until December 21 when the marks the winter solstice. And just last month on Halloween we had a rare Hunter's Full Moon. 

Beaver Moon comes in November

The name “beaver moon” comes from the native American Indian tribe the Algonquins. When they arrived in the new world colonists soon discovered that the Indians named each full moon based on weather conditions, farming, and hunting trends at that time of the year.

The Beaver Moon is also known as the cold moon, the long night moon, and the mourning moon.    

Lunar eclipse 2020

Lunar eclipses always occur on a Full Moon night. Whenever the Sun, Earth, and Moon line up in space a shadow crosses the Moon. Everyone on the night-side of the Earth will be able to view the eclipse, weather permitting. 

On Monday, it will be a partial, or “penumbral” eclipse.

A lunar eclipse is the result of the moon passing into the Earth's shadow. In a penumbral eclipse, the moon passes only slightly into the shadow so that during sunrise the light reaching the moon’s surface is not totally obstructed.

As long as the sky is clear, and the clouds don’t block views it should be a rare and beautiful sight.

If you miss the Full Beaver Moon on Monday morning, no worries. The moon will appear full from Saturday night until Tuesday morning, although the shadow will be gone.

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