How Does a Harvest Moon Occur?

The mesmerizing beauty of the Harvest Moon causes many to stop and gaze at its size and color. The Harvest Moon is one of nature's most-spectacular shows, and it occurs just once a year. Songs, poems, customs and myths are attributed to the Harvest Moon. It has captured the imagination of many generations and cultures.

The facts behind the Harvest Moon

The Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the Autumn Equinox. The path of the planets, moon and sun travel an elliptical path that reaches the narrowest point around the time of the Autumn Equinox. This reduces the amount of time between sunset and moon rising, causing the Moon to rise above the horizon just as the sun slips beneath it.

Why it looks so different

The color and size of the moon is directly due to the early moon rise. The Moon seems larger when it rises from the horizon and is framed by trees or buildings. It is actually a trick of the eye and not of the Moon. It is the same size; it just appears larger. The bright orange color associated with the Harvest Moon is caused by the Moon rising through a thicker layer of Earth's atmosphere. Since the atmosphere scatters blue light, it is the red light that is seen.

The farmer's friend

The full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox gained the name of Harvest Moon from the farmers that benefited from its bright orange light as they gathered their crops. Just as the sun retired, the bright moon would light up the fields, allowing farmers to complete harvest well into the night for several nights in a row.

The Harvest Moon is a sight to behold, dressed in the brightest of colors and offering light through the night. As the seasons shift from summer to fall each year, anyone outside should pause to bask in its beauty and share it with others.