Harvest Moon: How to watch the last supermoon of 2023

With autumn coming, observers around the world are looking forward to the appearance of the last supermoon of 2023, which is also called the Harvest Moon. The full moon on September 29 will be the last of four supermoons this year.

Moon. Photo: Unsplash

According to NASA, a supermoon occurs during the full moon, when its orbit is closest to Earth (perigee). This Friday, the Moon will be at a distance of approximately 361,867 km from Earth. This distance can range from about 356,400 km to 406,700 km.

Due to its proximity to Earth, the Harvest Supermoon will have a brightness of 16% more than usual. Also, it will look larger. The supermoon on September 29 will be 13% brighter and 5% larger than a typical full moon during 2023. The largest Blue Supermoon of the year was in August.

When will the Harvest Moon come

If the sky is clear, anyone can see the Harvest Moon. The ideal time to observe is the moonrise at dusk. The Earth’s moon will be in perigee on September 28 at 4:06 a.m. GMT+3. The full moon will come on September 29 at 12:57 p.m. Find a place with a good view of the horizon and enjoy the spectacle!

Harvest Moon in culture

According to NASA, the Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which occurs on September 22 every year. It has a special status in the cultural heritage, originating from the depths of our history. All because of its irreplaceable benefits for our ancestors. The moon rises almost at the same time, after sunset, and shines brightly for several evenings in a row. Moonlight provided farmers with an irreplaceable opportunity to work even at night to complete the harvest as soon as possible before the onset of autumn frosts.

In many cultures, various holidays and traditions are associated with the Harvest Moon. In East Asia, for example, the mid-autumn festival is a time to celebrate the harvest with family and friends during the full moon. Thus, the full September Moon is more than just a celestial event, it is an important cultural phenomenon.

The upcoming full moon in October will be known as the Hunting Full Moon. Although sometimes the Harvest Moon may appear in October.

Earlier we explained about the supermoon, super full moon and super eclipse.

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