What is the Harvest Moon?
Unlike other full moons that get their name based on the month they fall in, the Harvest moon gets it name because it is the full moon that is closest to the autumnal equinox, which this year is September 22nd. The full moon is a popular one as it is related to the changing of the seasons; signifying the conclusion of summer and the beginning of fall.
This year, the Harvest moon first appears in the evening of Friday, September 9, 2022, before reaching peak illumination at 4:58 A.M. CDT on Saturday, September 10. However, for many in Iowa, the Harvest moon will be difficult to see due to increasing cloud cover as rain will be moving into the state.
In addition to the full moon, Jupiter and Saturn will be rising with moon. These three will appear to be in a line Friday evening. Jupiter will be to the left of the moon, and will appear brighter than Saturn, which will be on the right of the moon. The moon will eventually appear just below Jupiter Saturday and Sunday night.
Why Is it Called the Harvest Moon?
For several evenings, the moonrise comes soon after sunset. This results in an abundance of bright moonlight early in the evening, which was a traditional aide to farmers and crews harvesting their summer-grown crops. Hence, it’s called the “Harvest” Moon.
The thick smoke over Iowa this evening not only gave us a deep red sunset but a colorful moonrise as well. #nikon #moon pic.twitter.com/NU5eQJU9NS
— Willard Sharp – Dramatic Sky Chaser (@madridiowawx) September 9, 2022