JACKSON, Wyo. — The fourth and final supermoon of 2024 will rise over Jackson on Friday, Nov. 15, reaching peak illumination in the late afternoon. The waxing moon has appeared big and bright in the sky all week, sometimes providing dramatic views as it has risen over the mountains around sunset.
To qualify as a supermoon, a new or full moon must occur within 90% of the moon’s closest approach to the Earth along its elliptical orbit, according to NASA. This full moon is the fourth consecutive supermoon of the year.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, November’s full moon is known as the Beaver Moon because “this is the time of year when beavers begin to take shelter in their lodges, having laid up sufficient food stores for the long winter ahead. During the fur trade in North America, it was also the season to trap beavers for their thick, winter-ready pelts.”
The Hinono-eino (Arapaho) call the November full moon, “when the rivers start to freeze.” The Nakodabi (Assiniboine) call it “cuhotgawi,” meaning, “frost moon.” The Ani’-Yun’wiya (Cherokee) call it “nvdadegwa,” meaning, “trading moon.” The Numunuu tribe (Comanche) call it the “yubaubi mua,” meaning, “heading to winter moon,” and the Wishram tribe (Tlakluit) call it “the snowy mountain in the morning moon.”
Other monikers noted in the Old Farmer’s Almanac include the “digging/scratching moon” (Tlingit), referring to animals foraging for fallen nuts or buried foliage, as well as bears digging their winter dens, and the “deer rutting moon” (Dakota and Lakota).
December’s “Cold moon” will reach fullness on Dec. 15. Astrology followers can check out the recent Hole Horoscope; the full Beaver Moon is rising in Taurus, which could make things a bit chaotic.
