NASA explains that this nickname is given to the brightest full moon that occurs closest to the beginning of autumn. But do you know why this moon is particularly bright?
TL;DR
- The next full moon, called the “harvest moon,” is scheduled for Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
- According to NASA, the nickname refers to the full moon closest to the start of autumn.
- This harvest moon is particularly bright and visible if the weather permits.
The Harvest Moon will light up the sky on September 18, 2024
Mark your calendars: the next full moon, more precisely the “harvest moon,” will rise in the sky on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 04:34 AM Paris time.
What is the harvest moon?
According to the NASAthe term “harvest moon” refers to the full moon that occurs closest to the beginning of autumn. Although this nickname is popular in astronomy, it has no scientific value.
However, it recalls a time before electricity was available, when farmers relied on moonlight to harvest their crops late into the night. “Moonlight was especially important in autumn, when harvests are most abundant”explains NASA.
The full moon, a spectacle that varies every month
A monthly phenomenon, a full moon occurs when the side of the Moon facing Earth is fully illuminated by the Sun. However, each full moon is unique.
Sometimes it appears larger, redder or brighter. These variations in appearance are due to the position of the Moon in relation to the Sun and Earth, NASA specifies.
