Yesterday, the United Arab Emirates and the world witnessed a remarkable astronomical phenomenon: the appearance of the 'Beaver Moon,' the full moon of November. Historically, it is the last full moon before the start of the astronomical winter. The 'Beaver Moon' was observed above the landmarks of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Sharjah in stunning scenes captured by amateur astronomers and photographers, taking advantage of the clarity of the sky at this time of year. The name originates from Native American tribes, which observed the moon's cycles to determine the hunting and farming seasons. They named the November moon the 'Beaver Moon' because this period was the peak of beaver activity in building dams and gathering branches in preparation for the harsh cold. After this, the rivers would freeze, making hunting more difficult. Thus, this moon became a symbol of the end of autumn and the beginning of the freezing winter season. Astronomically, the 'Beaver Moon' occurs when the moon is in its full phase opposite the sun, meaning its entire face illuminated by the sun is visible from Earth. In 2025, the moon reached its peak fullness on the evening of November 4th, appearing about 14% brighter than a regular moon due to its relatively close position to Earth in its elliptical orbit, making it appear slightly larger on the horizon.
