The full harvest moon, the fourth and final supermoon of 2023, lit up the early morning hours of September 29, according to NASA. This celestial event, which occurred around 5:58 a.m. ET on Friday, is expected to continue appearing entirely illuminated through Saturday morning.
A supermoon refers to a full moon that is closer to Earth than normal, resulting in a larger and brighter appearance in the night sky. The September full moon was approximately 224,854 miles (361,867 kilometers) away from Earth, about 14,046 miles (22,604 kilometers) closer than its average distance. This made it about 5% bigger and 13% brighter than an average full moon.
The harvest moon’s name is a reference to the fall season and the tradition of gathering crops. Its bright light historically allowed farmers in the Northern Hemisphere to work into the evening, harvesting their crops before the first frost. Indigenous tribes have their own names for September’s full moon, including the corn maker moon, the moon of the brown leaves, and the autumn moon.
In addition to the harvest moon, several other planets are currently visible in the night sky. Saturn and Jupiter rise in the east and remain high in the later hours, while Venus shines brightly before dawn. Mercury can also be seen dancing low along the eastern horizon before dawn.
Looking ahead, there are still several notable celestial events to look forward to in 2023. On October 14, people across North, Central, and South America will have the opportunity to witness an annular solar eclipse, also known as the “Ring of Fire.” During this event, the moon will pass between the sun and Earth at or near its farthest point from Earth.
On October 28, a partial lunar eclipse will occur, with only part of the moon passing into shadow. This will be visible in Europe, Asia, Australia, parts of North America, and much of South Africa.
Additionally, there are several upcoming meteor showers expected to peak in the remaining months of the year. These include the Draconids on October 8, the Orionids on October 20-21, the Southern Taurids on November 4-5, the Northern Taurids on November 11-12, the Leonids on November 17-18, the Geminids on December 13-14, and the Ursids on December 21-22.
As the year progresses, stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts can mark their calendars for these upcoming celestial events and enjoy the wonders of the night sky.