If the weather holds, it could make for quite a sight.
Those of you with an interest in astronomy and in the big, big sky above may want to tilt your neck upwards this weekend to catch sight of what’s known as the ‘Beaver Moon’.
Although some people will have you believe that the full moon visible over the next few days is a so-called ‘supermoon’, David Moore, editor of Astronomy Ireland, is not one of them.
That’s not that he doesn’t think it won’t make for a spectacular sight, mind and we should have plenty of opportunities to bask at it between now and Sunday night.
“This moon isn’t a 'supermoon', it’s just a full moon in November called a 'Beaver Moon',” Moore told JOE.
‘Beaver Moon’ refers to the name given to this particular full moon by the Native Americans; arguably the most famous one is the 'Harvest Moon', which traditionally arrives in September or October and is closest to the autumnal equinox.
This one,
according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac at least, is referred to as the ‘Beaver Moon’ because it arrives at a time of year when it was necessary for certain tribes to set beaver traps to ensure a supply of warm winter furs.
Back to this weekend and while the moon will look full for most of the next three days, it will be at its fullest sometime in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“The full moon is visible for about three days, actually, not just Saturday when the moon is officially full; we can now tell the instant the moon is full to the nearest minute,” says Moore.
“The day before to the naked eye and the day after to the naked eye, it will look just as full.
“Anyone looking up at the moon tonight (Friday), tomorrow night and Sunday night will see a full moon. Technically, we can tell you that the exact instant the moon is full tomorrow morning (Saturday) sometime after 5am.”
Moore is encouraging anyone who snaps any particularly good photos of the Beaver Moon to send them to Astronomy Ireland, who have some big plans in store for science week a little later this month.
For more information, check out
Astronomy Ireland on Facebook.
