The moon appears pumpkin-like orange and red, which seems oddly fitting, but it’s not a unique feature of this month. All full moons appear orange, but there are 13 full moons each year.
A supermoon is a full moon that occurs when the moon is in its closest orbit to Earth. According to , a supermoon can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than the smallest full moon. NASA. This will be the last supermoon until August next year.
Why is it called the Mid-Autumn Harvest Moon?
The Harvest Moon, also known as the “Corn Moon” among Northeastern indigenous peoples, historically heralds the time when various summer crops are ready for harvest. Farmers have been harvesting crops until late at night, relying on the light of September’s full moon.
“It’s close to a full moon, so it’s a full moon that happens around the time of the fall harvest,” said Noah Petro, a scientist with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter project.
When and where can you see this moon?
This year’s Harvest Moon is a supermoon, so it will appear a little bigger and brighter, but it is simply the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox.
The autumnal equinox marks the astronomical change of seasons when the amount of day and darkness is approximately equal at all latitudes. This means that this sweltering summer is over and temperatures are finally starting to cool down. This year’s Harvest Moon will rise from Thursday night to Friday morning, about a week after the autumnal equinox. The moon will be full at 5:57 a.m. Friday.
We are all separated by distance but united by the moon. And luckily, this is a moon that everyone can see. The place is fully booked from sunrise to sunset.
The Harvest Moon begins to grace the sky on Thursday, but don’t worry if you miss it. NASA Ambassador Tony Rice said skywatchers and harvesters can see a nearly full moon in the days leading up to and after the monthly peak.
“You can go at least a day in either direction, maybe two days in each direction, and it will look equally full to most people,” Rice said.