The September Full Harvest Moon is the last supermoon of the year

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A full Harvest Moon shone in the early morning hours of September 29, marking the fourth and final supermoon of 2023.

September’s full moon reached peak brightness at 5:58 a.m. Friday, but is expected to be fully illuminated until Saturday morning. NASA.

Definitions of a supermoon can vary, but the term generally refers to a full moon that is closer to Earth than normal, causing it to appear larger and brighter in the night sky. is the moon 224,854 miles (361,867 kilometers) from Earth, about 14,046 miles (22,604 kilometers) closer than its average distance. The closest supermoon of the year occurred on August 30, when the moon was just 221,954 miles (357,200 kilometers) from Earth.

September’s full moon was expected to appear 5% larger and 13% brighter than the average full moon. NASA.

Some astronomers say this event occurs when the moon is 90% perigee — its closest approach to Earth in orbit.

The name Harvest Moon is apt for the gathering season, as the event occurs at the beginning of autumn or near the autumnal equinox, which this year fell on September 23. Typically, this time of year in the north is when many crops are at their peak. The hemisphere and the bright moon once enabled farmers to work late into the evening and harvest their bounty before the first frost. The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Other names throughout the full moon of September Different tribes These include the Corn Grower Moon from the Abenaki tribe, the Brown Leaf Moon from the Lakota people, and the Fall Moon from the Pasmakudi tribe.

Other traditions celebrating the harvest at this time include the Korean festival Susok and the Japanese Buddhist festival Higan, both of which celebrate the memory of ancestors. Royal Museums Greenwich.

Many people associate the color orange when the Harvest Moon begins to wax, but the same can be said for all full moons. The hue is caused by the thickness of Earth’s atmosphere near the horizon, which is greater than when the full moon is overhead. Earthsky.

Many planets are currently visible in the night sky Planetary association. Golden Saturn and bright Jupiter rise in the east and appear high in the later hours, while Venus (one of the brightest objects visible in the night sky) shines before dawn. Meanwhile, Mercury dances low on the eastern horizon before dawn.

Full Moons and Super Moons

Here are the remaining full moons in 2023, according to the Farmer’s Almanac:

● October 28: Hunter’s Moon

● November 27: Beaver Moon

● December 26: Cold Moon

Lunar and solar eclipses

People across North, Central and South America will be able to see the annular solar eclipse on October 14th. During this event, also known as the “Ring of Fire,” the Moon will pass between the Sun and Earth at or near its farthest point. Earth. The Moon appears smaller than the Sun and is surrounded by a luminous halo.

Spectators should wear eclipse glasses to avoid eye damage while viewing the event.

A partial lunar eclipse will occur on October 28. Because the Sun, Earth, and Moon are not perfectly aligned, only a portion of the Moon becomes a shadow. This partial eclipse will be visible in Europe, Asia, Australia, parts of North America and most of South Africa.

Each of the remaining meteors expected to peak this year is most visible in areas free of light pollution from dusk to dawn. Here are the peak dates of events:

● Dragonids: October 8

● Orionides: October 20-21

● Southern Tarits: November 4-5

● Northern Torrids: November 11-12

● Leonidas: November 17-18

● Gemini: December 13-14

● Ursits: December 21-22