Stunning Science

What is a Beaver Moon?

The month of November, there was a double celestial event that occurred, bringing a meteor shower and supermoon that was visible in America. The beaver supermoon occurred on Wednesday, November 10th, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. The supermoon was at peak illumination at 8:19 AM EST, although you probably wouldn’t be able to see it as the moon was below the horizon. In order to see the best view of the moon, people looked outside on the evenings of November 4th and 5th. The moniker beaver moon is supposed to mark the time when beavers prepare for the winter by fortifying dams and lodges, as they begin to stock up on food. Different Native American peoples refer to this full supermoon differently depending on their culture. The Tlingit people refer to this supermoon as the digging moon, the deer rutting moon by the Dakota, and the frost moon by the Cree. 

The term “supermoon” was created in 1979 and occurs when a full moon travels to the closest point to the earth in its orbit. Because the moon orbits Earth in an eclipse, the oval shape of its orbit causes the moon to be closer and farther from the earth at different points in the year. The farthest point in this eclipse is called the apogee, which is when the moon is around 253,000 miles from the earth. The perigee is when the moon is closest to the earth, and when the moon is around 226,000 miles away from the earth. When a full moon occurs near the perigee, it considerably looks larger and brighter than the usual size of a full moon. A supermoon appears 14% larger than normal and 30% brighter than a normal full moon. The Beaver Moon is one of the nicknames for a full moon in November, which originates from Native American and European folklore and traditions. 

Meteor Showers

The second celestial event that happened in November was the Southern Taurid meteor shower that will peak at 8 AM ET, according to Earth Sky. You usually see the South Taurid meteor shower at any point from September 10th to November 20th, while a similar event called the North Taurid shower usually occurs from October 20th to December 20th. Due to this range of dates, the meteors are prone to overlap with each other, producing even more meteors into the sky. Each shower is able to produce about 5 meteors per hour, which becomes 10 when the Northern and Southern Taurid showers overlap with each other. Both the Northern and Southern meteor showers usually don’t reach a level of max activity, and stay at roughly the same level.

The Taurids are caused by the Earth passing through debris that has been left from the comet 2P/Encke. This comet also has the shortest orbit of any comet that has ever been discovered, only taking about 3.3 years to orbit. The meteor shower has also been called “Halloween fireballs,” as they sometimes produce these “fireballs” during Halloween. The encounter with the Taurids this year is also special as we will also see new debris that are a little bit larger than the usual Taurid meteor. If you want to watch the Southern Taurid shower, you should find an area with clear skies(no clouds) and no tall buildings nearby. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, there were two major celestial events that happened a few weeks ago, with them being a supermoon and the Southern Taurid meteor shower. Both of these events were extremely special, as you usually only get to see them once or a few times every year. If you weren’t able to see the meteor shower or the supermoon, you might have to wait a while in order to see them again. In the meantime, I will list some other celestial objects you might be able to witness this year. The Geminids will be visible from December 13-14, while the Ursids while be visible from December 21-22. A final celestial event you might be able to see this year is the supermoon that is coming up. On December 4, 2025, you might be able to see the last full supermoon this year: the Cold moon. 

Works Cited:

• https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/science/full-moon-southern-taurid-meteor-shower

• https://www.almanac.com/full-moon-november

• https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/watch-the-skies/2024/11/12/you-woodnt-want-to-miss-the-beaver-moon-last-supermoon-of-2024/

• https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/taurid-meteors-all-you-need-to-know/

Shows a picture of an Orca and a Great White Shark in Mexico 

An Orca & a Great White Shark

Oceans are full of surprises, and possibilities and also animal fights below the surface. When an orca and a great white shark meet, lots of things can happen in a short amount of time. 

This incident happened in Mexico, and it is not the first time for scientists to see an incident like this. It has been seen in California and South Africa, with similar behavior. It has also been seen in Mexico multiple times, for the same reason. As Orcas are intelligent animals they come in pods, and travel together to attack and defend together. It is a strategy many animals use, for themselves and benefits them as well.

Great white sharks on the other hand, do not use a pod but instead they are known for their strength and size among other animals in the ocean. Orcas are much smaller than great white sharks, which is one reason for why they choose to travel in a pod rather than individuals.

One incident happened in August 2020, where multiple cameras were used to capture the footage. It appeared that five female killer whales (orcas) killed a baby great white shark. Another date in the year recorded the same behavior, at the same location. 

How are Orcas Being Able to Do This?

Orcas are intelligent animals, and one of the most intelligent animals in the world. A study notes that these orcas are turning the shark over; they induce “tonic immobility”. This makes it easier for the Orca to manipulate the shark. It also “paralyzes” the shark, according to Live Science and also mentions that it leaves the shark “defenseless”. 

Orcas are also coming in pods, and doing repeated strikes which is not giving enough time for the great white shark to strike back. It makes the shark have immobility, and decreases access to the organs the study adds. Orcas are also targeting juvenile great white sharks, which can “provide additional pressure”, the study also mentions.

What do the Orcas Want?

Orcas; battling great white sharks and killing them all have  a reason, and it is liver. Liver is vital for orcas in its energy rich resources. Ralph Waston, a marine biologist mentions that the liver contains a “nutritious oil called squalene.” She also mentions that it makes up about a |”a third of sharks’ body weight.” She also adds that it is “appealing” to orcas, because of the nutrition it has.

Orcas have been seen, killing the shark just for the and taking all of the liver, due to the nutrition it has. They leave all of the rest in the shark, and take only the liver. Scientists are still questioned and struck, about why the liver is so  particular to them so suddenly, and why it is so important. It suggests how Orcas are intelligent and smart, by knowing the source of nutrients for which it comes from.