SPACE
Harvest Supermoon: When and where is the best time to watch the last Supermoon of 2023?
The full harvest moon will be in the sky on the night of 29 September and will be visible in some places until the following day.
The last ‘supermoon’ will be crossing American skies this Friday night. September’s full moon will appear about 5% bigger and 13% brighter than the average full moon, according to NASA, being 14,046 miles closer than its average distance.
The closest point of its orbit, the perigee, was actually the night of 27 September. The full Moon will be Friday morning, 29 September, 2023, appearing opposite the Sun at 5:58 AM EDT. This will be Thursday night in Hawaii.
Harvest Moon is the name given to the full moon that occurs nearest to the autumnal equinox, which usually falls in September in the Northern Hemisphere. The name signifies the time when farmers would have extra moonlight to work in their fields, helping them to harvest crops. The Harvest Moon can occasionally fall in early October depending on the lunar calendar for that year.
The term ‘supermoon’ refers to a full moon that appears larger and brighter in the night sky than a typical full moon. This occurs because the moon’s orbit around Earth is slightly elliptical, so there are times when it is closer to Earth and times when it is farther away, apogee.
What will the harvest moon look like?
The Harvest Moon appears larger and brighter than other full moons. This is partly due to the moon’s proximity to the horizon when it rises, which causes it to be seen through more of Earth’s atmosphere. This can create a reddish or orange hue.