Skywatchers are in for a treat as the full Beaver Moon will shine brightly on November 15, starting at 4:29 p.m. EST. This event is particularly noteworthy as it marks the last Supermoon of 2024, making the Moon appear larger and more luminous than usual.
The term “supermoon,” first introduced in 1979, describes the phenomenon when a full Moon coincides with its closest point to Earth. The Moon’s orbit is elliptical, creating varying distances from our planet. At its farthest point, the apogee, the Moon is approximately 253,000 miles away, while at its closest point, known as the perigee, it nears 226,000 miles. When a full moon occurs close to the perigee, it looks brighter and larger than a typical full moon.
According to NASA research scientist Dennis Gallagher, supermoons are a regular occurrence. The Moon orbits Earth roughly every 27.3 days, aligning with perigee three or four times a year due to the movements of both Earth and the Moon around the Sun.
The Beaver Moon, a name rooted in Native American and European cultural traditions, is linked to the time of year when beavers prepare for winter by reinforcing their dams and gathering food. November is also traditionally the month for trapping beavers, which were valued for their warm pelts.
In an unexpected twist, beavers find a connection to space exploration via NASA. The agency is engaged in a project called the Beaver Rewilding Project in Idaho, which utilizes its Earth-observing missions, such as Landsat and Sentinel, to study the ecological impacts of beaver dam-building. This research illuminates how beavers can enhance landscapes by retaining water and creating habitats while improving water supplies and grazing areas, ultimately bolstering the ecosystem’s resilience to challenges like drought and fire.
As you gaze at the last supermoon of 2024, it’s fascinating to reflect on the surprising connections between nature and science, demonstrating how intertwined our world truly is.
The Beaver Moon serves as a reminder of nature’s wonders and humanity’s continuous quest to understand and protect our environment.