Beaver Moon is Out Sunday Night

I just got back from a quick walk with Molly the black lab.  There was a brief few minutes when you could really get a look at what The Farmers Almanac is calling the Beaver Moon.  According to The Weather Channel,

According to folklore, the Beaver Moon gets its name for one of a few different reasons, both having to do with the dam-building, nocturnal rodents with the oar-shaped tails. The Old Farmer’s Almanac postulates that it is called the Beaver Moon because this month was just the right moment to set beaver traps before the winter freeze. But according to National Geographic, it could also be attributed to the “heavy activity of beavers building their winter dams.”

If you're into stargazing, and checking out the evening sky, then tonight has even more.  But you'll have to wait up a little later for it!

The full moon is bright — though magnitudes dimmer than the sun, according to Space.com — so it may overshadow the Leonid meteor shower, also peaking Sunday. “A full moon will shine all night long, making 2013 an unfavorable year for watching this meteor shower,” NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab reports.

Even still, if you’re a die-hard stargazer and you try to watch for the meteors, which radiate from the constellation Leo, expect about 15 meteors per hour, according to NASA. They’ll be traveling at around 44 miles per second. “As a rule of thumb,” adds EarthSky, “the Leonids intensify after midnight, and the greatest numbers fall just before dawn.” The site recommends waking up a few hours early for best viewing.

I can't wait. I have a date with a tree stand set for early Monday morning.  Sure, I'll be back to the studios in time for my 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. shift, but in the meantime, can't wait to see if the skies clear in time for me to check out the meteor shower.  Several times, I've been able to check out a LOT of activity, especially on he way to the tree stand.

Oh, If I should happen to get a deer Monday morning, I might be a little late getting back to town!