On Wednesday, September 22 at 9:21 p.m. the autumn equinox will take place , so just before the new season arrives we will be able to admire in the skies the so-called Harvest Moon , which corresponds to the full moon of the month of September. . Therefore, it is the last full moon of the summer that is also usually always seen with a beautiful orange color so we explain now when it is and how to see it.
Harvest full moon: when is it and how to see the full moon in September
At night between today, Monday, September 20 and Tuesday, September 21, we will be able to admire the magnificent Full Harvest Moon in the sky that sometimes is also known as the Full Corn Moon , since it is the one that occurs closest to the autumn equinox. . This is how it was actually called in 2020 when the Full Harvest Moon occurred on October 1, since it was closer to the arrival of autumn (September 22) than when the full moon occurred in September (which was produced on day 2).
The full moon near the autumn equinox is dedicated to crops , since according to tradition, it allowed farmers to work in the fields for longer, before the arrival of night frosts.
When to see the full harvest moon
Earth’s natural satellite will reach its fullness phase at exactly 1:55 am on Tuesday, September 21, giving birth to the spectacular Full Harvest Moon. As always, the lunar disk will appear full to our eyes even several hours before and after the real fullness, so the astronomical spectacle can be enjoyed throughout the afternoon of September 20 and until dawn on the 21st . If you do not want to miss this moon, you should know that today, Monday 20, the Moon will rise in the East at 7:23 p.m. , located between the constellation of Pisces (left), the constellation of Aquarius (right) and that of the Whale (below) . Weather permitting, Earth’s satellite will be visible until around 06:00 a.m. the next day.
To view it, the use of any type of telescope or binoculars is not required. It will be enough to stay away from light pollution that could make the moon look less bright and also from the skies with many clouds. If you move into an open space with a clear sky, you will be able to see (and photograph) this full moon without problem.
Full harvest moon: why is it called like that and what is its meaning
The common name for full moons is typically associated with Native American tradition, who used a lunar calendar instead of our Gregorian calendar. The tribes were different, but the largest and most influential, even today, is that of the Algonquins , so the names chosen many times derive from their culture . The names are linked to significant events for the life of the community, which is why they are often dedicated to animals, hunting, harvests, atmospheric events, etc …
The September Full Moon is usually linked to the Corn harvest , however, as we have mentioned, being the closest to the autumn equinox this year it is called the Full Harvest Moon. Thanks to it, in fact, farmers were able to prolong their work in the field (there were no artificial lights for centuries) and to be able to do so with abundant stocks in view of the cold seasons. The September Full Moon is also known by other names, linked to other tribes: Autumn Moon (Cree); Moon of the falling leaves (Ojibwe); Brown Leaf Moon (Lakota) and Yellow Leaf Moon (Assiniboine).
