'Full Beaver Moon' To Shine In Thursday's Night Sky

DETROIT (WWJ) - Look up Thursday night to see the "Full Beaver Moon."

If the skies are clear on Nov. 6, Michiganders will have a great view of this month's full moon, which was named long ago by Native Americans.

"Each moon got a name from an activity or an event that happened that month," explained Mary Anne Jarvela with the Old Farmer's Almanac. "And the Beaver Moon means that this is the time when the beavers are very busy, to fix their lodges and get ready for winter; and it was also the time to hunt the beavers to get the winter furs."

December's full moon is known as the Cold Moon, or the Long Nights Moon.

Jarvela said the full moon carries with it a lot of folklore.

For example it's bad luck to sleep in the moonlight.

"And also, if the moon is pale that means it's going to rain the next day, if the full moon is pale," Jarvela said, "and if it's dark red  it's going to be cold the next day."

The days leading up to the full moon are also considered the best days to catch fish. Some believe that more babies are born before and during a full moon.

[Learn more about the full moons and their names HERE].