Ageless Preoccupation

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Last evening after work, I met with a friend and arrived home slightly later than usual. Maybe the later time altered the lighting and allowed my camera to produce a clearer image of the moon. The welcome globe of light remains wonderful after several nights of nearly or full moons.

Curious about the moons, I did some research and learned that November’s moon is a Beaver Moon–or the period of brightest nights when the nocturnal animals are working hardest to build winter dams. This November moon also has other names–Frost Moon, Trading Moon, and Snow Moon (although Snow Moon may refer to February’s Full Moon).

After photographing several November moons, I wondered why so many seemingly-full, or full-seeming moons. The NASA Science website provided lots of information–and the biggest bit is that, at this moment, the actual Beaver Moon is occurring. It’s visible right now–this morning! Over the past three evenings, moons that have appeared full have been precursors to the real Beaver Moon. This Beaver Moon will appear again tonight, and tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, and perhaps also Wednesday night.

I’m grateful for having tried to capture some moons. Those have got me started using my new iPhone’s “tricky” camera. Tonight, the first evening of a visible full Beaver Moon, I’ll be out hoping for a clear sky and to memorialize the event.

Incidentally, in November there’s yet another and final full moon. It occurs prior to the winter solstice and is known as the Mourning Moon. Since the lunar and monthly calendars don’t always match, that Mourning Moon may instead appear in early December. I’ll continue looking toward the sky in hopes of seeing and capturing it.

Dear Friends: “Getting into” the Moon is to grasp the element’s eternal appeal. Diana