- From sunset at 16:00 GMT tonight the full Beaver Moon will rise over the UK
- The best time to see this will be early evening when the Moon is low in the sky
Make the most of the shorter days today, as the ‘Full Beaver Moon’ lights up Britain’s sky from the early afternoon.
The Beaver Moon is the penultimate full moon of 2023 and will be visible from after sunset at 16:00 GMT today.
While the peak of the Full Moon was technically this morning, our lunar satellite will still appear full when it rises tonight.
The best time to see this dazzling display will be just after the Moon rises, while it is still close to the horizon and appears larger than normal.
With cloud cover forecast over much of the UK, dress up warm and keep an eye out for a gap in the clouds to get the best view.
How can I see the Beaver Moon?
Dr Darren Baskill of the University of Sussex says the best time to see the Beaver Moon was in the very early hours of this morning.
However, Dr Baskill says not to worry if you couldn’t drag yourself out of bed on a very cold morning.
‘You have a second opportunity to admire the full Moon hugging the horizon when it rises in the north-east as the Sun sets later that same day,’ Dr Baskill told BBC Science Focus.
As the Moon rises above the horizon it may appear larger than normal, but this is actually just an optical illusion.
The ‘Moon Illusion’ causes the moon to appear to us as much larger when it is low on the horizon despite remaining the exactly the same size throughout the entire night.
However, even if it might not be larger in reality, Dr Baskill says the Beaver Moon is ‘an impressive sight when it’s low on the horizon.’
Tonight’s weather might not be ideal for Moon-gazing but a few good glimpses of the Beaver Moon should still be possible.
The Met Office forecasts fairly heavy cloud cover for most of the South and East of the country around 17:00 GMT this evening.
However, there will be a few breaks in the cloud over Manchester, parts of Wales and the South West.
Stargazers around London or the South East should be prepared for wet weather as the Met Office forecasts heavy rain in the late afternoon.
If you are going out to see the Moon, be sure to dress up warm as temperatures are expected to fall to around 40°F (5°C) overnight.
Why is it called the Beaver Moon?
The Beaver Moon gets its name from 16th to 19th century America when the trade in beaver pelts was roaring.
Some theorise that the moon is named because November was beaver trapping season due to the thick coats the animals develop during the winter.
Others suggest that the moon marks the time of year that Beavers retreat to their lodges in anticipation of the coming cold months.
‘Different cultures have long given different names to the 12 Full Moons of the year’, said Dr Baskill.
‘While the origins of such names have often been lost over the years, beavers are most active at dawn and dusk. They can be seen beavering away overnight by the light of this aptly named Full Moon.
‘Beavers are especially visible at this time of the year as the absence of leaves on trees and shrubs makes them easier to spot.’
Will the Moon be larger than normal?
While the Full Beaver Moon is an impressive sight, it will not actually be larger than any normal full moon.
This is because this year’s Beaver Moon is not a ‘supermoon’.
Dr Baskill explained: ‘Full Moons always occur when the Moon is on the opposite side of the sky to the Sun, and it is fully illuminated by sunshine – which is where the name “full Moon” originates.’
A supermoon, on the other hand, occurs when the moon is at its closest point to the Earth, or its perigee.
As the Moon orbits the Earth in an ellipse it gets closer and further away throughout the cycle.
When the perigee aligns with the conditions for a full Moon we get a supermoon in which the Moon may appear up to 14 per cent larger.
The next chance to catch a supermoon will be on 18 September 2024.
This will be a particularly special event, as it will also be a partial lunar eclipse, meaning part of the moon will pass into the Earth’s shadow and appear red.
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
