Harvest moon the first super moon of the year

By Sharon Harrison
October’s full moon –the harvest moon- rose early in all its fullness Monday evening, in a bright light sky, just prior to the setting sun, illuminating the night sky at a slow, gentle pace. Traditionally, its name derived from how, for a few days at least, the full moon rises around sunset, giving farmers more time to harvest their crops.

Referred to as the harvest moon, it gets the title because it is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox (this year on Sept. 22). This full moon is also the first super moon of the year (the first of three consecutive super moons in 2025) making it appear the brightest and largest full moon of the year as its point in the orbit is closest to earth.

The result is a full moon appearing 14 per cent larger than the average full moon, and 30 per cent brighter, also enhanced with a slightly deeper golden glow than usual. The full harvest moon appears at its largest just as it is rising above the horizon; once fully positioned in the sky, it appears a little less giant than when it first rises.

The (almost) full harvest moon was just as spectacular Sunday night too, and while it will still appear full over the next few nights, cloud cover may affect moon watching of the celestial experience.

And for those wondering how the harvest moon is coming in October instead of September as it usually does, space.com informs the last time the harvest moon occurred in October was in 2020. The next time will be 2028. In the 80 years spanning 1970 to 2050, only 18 of those years will see the harvest moon fall in the month of October.

The next full supermoons are Nov. 5 (the beaver moon), and Dec. 4 (the cold moon).