Thanks go out to Barbara Good who got out of bed at 4 a.m. this morning to take a shot of the Full Beaver Moon.
See: The Backyard Astronomer: Get ready for the 'Full Beaver Moon'
It's called the Beaver Moon because it falls around the same time when hunters would set traps for beavers, capturing them for their fur ahead of the chilly winter season. It is also known as the Frosty Moon because it falls near the beginning of the winter season when the temperatures start to drop.
This one was extra special because it appeared very close to being a total eclipse.
Because of the geometry, the moon was in the larger shadow of the earth except for a mere three per cent, leaving the edge in sunlight.
A lunar eclipse are very safe to enjoy, unlike solar eclipses.
If you were on the moon at the centre of the shadow during the mid-point of this eclipse, you would see an orange ring around the earth. From this vantage point, you would see sunlight refracting through our atmosphere, witnessing every sunset on the left side of the earth along with every sunrise on the right side at the same time.
With files from “The Backyard Astronomer”, Gary Boyle.