Harvest Moon Event: Full Moon, Supermoon, and Lunar Eclipse All in One Night
By waterbaby
Tuesday night offers a celestial trifecta: a full moon, a supermoon, and a partial lunar eclipse all happening simultaneously.
As the Earth casts its shadow over part of the moon, it will give the moon a "murky red-brown color," according to Space.com.
The timing of the partial lunar eclipse varies depending on location. For those in the Eastern Time Zone, it begins at 8:41 p.m., with the peak—when about 8% of the moon will be in shadow—occurring at 10:44 p.m., according to NASA.
Adding to the event, the moon will also appear as a supermoon, meaning it will be at its closest point to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter than usual. This is one of four supermoons this year, with others occurring in August, September, October, and November, Space.com reports.
In addition to being known as the Harvest Moon, this full moon goes by several names, such as Corn Moon, Fruit Moon, Barley Moon, Reunion Festival Moon, and Potato Harvest Moon. These names relate to the harvest season, as the full moon provided light to help farmers work late into the night, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Culturally, the Harvest Moon holds significance across the globe. For Hindus, it marks the end of Ganesh Chaturthi and the beginning of Pitru Paksha, a 15-day festival. Buddhists in Bangladesh and Thailand celebrate it as the Honey Full Moon Festival (Madhu Purnima). In China, Vietnam, and other Asian countries, it coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival, featuring offerings to the Moon Goddess Chang’e, NASA explains.
The next full moon, which will also be a supermoon, is set to occur on October 17, known as the Hunter’s Moon, according to CNN.
For those in north Georgia, Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz says the eclipse will begin around 10:12 p.m., reaching its peak at 10:44 p.m., and will conclude by 11:15 p.m.
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