‘Harvest Moon’ set to peak this weekend. Here’s when to catch a glimpse in central PA
A fan-favorite full moon will peak later this week, and you won’t need to stay up too late to catch the best views.
The “Harvest Moon” refers to the full moon that occurs closest to the fall equinox, which is Sept. 22 this year.
“The harvest moon gets its name from agriculture. In the days before electric lights, farmers depended on bright moonlight to extend the workday beyond sunset,” NASA’s website reads. “It was the only way they could gather their ripening crops in time for market.”
The first known use of this term in the English language was recorded in 1706, according to NASA. This moon is also called the Corn Moon, according to The Maine Farmers’ Almanac.
Indigenous Algonquin peoples (from what is now the northeastern U.S.) gave the September full moon the title of “Corn Moon” as it happened during harvest season for corn, pumpkins, squash, beans and wild rice. Additional names for the event include the Fruit Moon and Barley Moon.
When’s the best time to see the Harvest Moon in State College?
This year’s harvest moon will peak Sept. 10, though it’ll likely appear full to the human eye for a couple days before and after the date.
The best time to look east for the Harvest Moon is at moonrise, which will be around 8:01 p.m. in State College Saturday.
You don’t need a telescope to see the Harvest Moon, and unlike recent meteor showers and other astronomical events, you won’t have to stay up particularly late or wake up early to catch a glimpse.
You can typically get a nice view at moonrise because it creates a “moon illusion,” Forbes reported. This is when the full moon appears larger than it actually is because you can see it on the horizon, potentially surrounded by trees and buildings. The Centre County region is home to several large public parks you could visit for your stargazing trip.
More upcoming celestial events
Sept. 14 to 15 will be the shortest solar day of the year, according to NASA. The day will last only 23 hours, 59 minutes and 38.6 seconds.
Sept. 22 marks the Autumnal Equinox, “the astronomical end of summer and the start of fall,” NASA says. The sun will shift from the Northern to Southern Hemisphere.
The next full moon after the Harvest Moon will be Oct. 9 at 4:55 p.m.
Have a favorite public stargazing spot in Centre County? Email mhoward@bnd.com with the location.
