An ultra rare Harvest Moon is about to rise over the Queen City this coming Saturday night, creating one of the most distinctive moonrises of the year.
The Harvest Moon is the full moon occurring closest to the autumnal equinox (this year it was on Tuesday, September 22), but what makes this one particularly unusual is the timing of its moonrises so close to sunrise, as well the appearance of Saturn’s opposition, making it especially bright in the September sky.
The Harvest Moon will rise beside both Saturn and Neptune on September 26. NASA says the three will form a broad grouping in the eastern sky after sunset.
Charlotte will also get an especially good demonstration of the traditional “Harvest Moon effect.” Moonrise occurs around 6:39 pm Friday, 7:05 pm Saturday and 7:34 pm Sunday. That is only 26 and 29 minutes later each night, compared with roughly 50 minutes during much of the year.
Historically, the extra evening light of Harvest Moons helped farmers continue harvesting crops after the sun went down.
Charlotte-area viewers may also notice the moon appearing yellow, orange or reddish near the horizon. That color comes from Earth’s atmosphere. Moonlight travels through more atmosphere when the moon sits low in the sky. As the moon climbs higher, the orange tint usually fades and the moon appears brighter and whiter.
Other traditional names include the Corn Moon, Autumn Moon, and Falling Leaves Moon.
Anyone with a clear view toward the eastern horizon should have a good chance to see it shortly after 7 pm.
