How to View the Full Harvest Supermoon

The month of September will come to an end with the final supermoon of 2023 shining in the sky.

The harvest moon, or full moon of September, will be the final of four consecutive supermoons.

What is a supermoon?

According to NASA, the supermoon phenomenon happens when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth and the moon is full at the same time. The moon’s distance from Earth varies between around 221,457 miles and 252,712 miles; the next supermoon will be located at a distance of 224,854 miles.

Supermoons typically have a brightness that is 16% higher than an average moon. Additionally, they appear larger than the typical full moon. It is comparable to the size difference between a quarter and a nickel, according to NASA.

The supermoon this month will be 13% brighter and 5% bigger than the typical full moon in 2023. The largest super blue moon of the year occurred in August.

When to see the “Harvest” supermoon

Between Thursday night and Friday morning, the supermoon will rise. The Farmer’s Almanac predicts that it will reach its maximum brightness on Friday at 5:58 a.m. EDT.

Use the U.S. Navy moonrise calendar to find out the precise times for your area.

Why is this full moon called the “Harvest” moon?

According to NASA, the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox is known as the “Harvest” moon.

According to the Farmer’s Almanack, September is a crucial month for crop harvesting in the Northern Almanac, which is how it received its name. The “Harvest” moon might appear in October on occasion.

The two full moons in August were designated as the “Sturgeon Moon” and the “Blue Moon.” The approaching full moon in October is known as the “Hunter’s Moon.”

How to see and take pictures of the supermoon

According to NASA, all you have to do is go outside and gaze up. The moon can be magnified and its surface details made clearer with a telescope or pair of binoculars.

NASA advises using something to stabilise your phone or camera if you want to take some pictures of the moon. Disable the flash and set the camera’s focus on the moon rather than the sky. You can prevent jostling the camera or phone while taking the photo by using a timer. A telescope’s eyepiece can be used by users to snap photos.