A Total Lunar Eclipse Called the ‘Beaver Blood Moon’ Will Light Up the Night Sky this Week

This week will see a spectacular lunar event with the “Beaver Blood Moon” lighting up the night sky with a total lunar eclipse to boot.

On the morning of Tuesday, November 8, the moon will pass through the shadow of Earth creating a total lunar eclipse that will shine a bright red glow across the world. The entire western United States, including Northern California, will be able to see the full eclipse, weather permitting.

Lunar eclipses occur when the sun, Earth and moon are all lined up perfectly, casting the shadow of the earth onto the moon. This total lunar eclipse will start at 1:03 am Pacific time on November 8, with the moon reaching full totality at 2:17 am. The eclipse will last until approximately 4:49 am, while the entire event will take about 3.5 hours.

This will be the final lunar eclipse of the year, with the next one occurring on May 6, 2023. The one thing that could hinder the view for people in Northern California will be weather, with the incoming storm forecast to leave the area on Tuesday. With the current forecast, the storm should clear just in time for the celestial event.

So why is it called a “Beaver Blood Moon?” Let’s break it down:

A “blood moon” is the term to reference when the Earth casts a shadow on the moon, causing it to reflect a reddish color. It’s similar to the phenomenon of a sunrise or sunset, where the shadows darken the color of the sun. This moon will have a colorful, reddish hue.

The “beaver moon” is the Native American reference to the November full moon. This name is due to the high level of activity from rodents in the month leading up to winter.

There you have it – Beaver Blood Moon!

Once again, weather will be a driving factor in whether we’ll be able to see this event in Northern California. If the skies are clear, the best way to see this incredible event is to venture far away from man-made lights.