Great news for all the stargazers out there!
A ‘harvest moon’ is rolling into town and hitting up Houston skies. This year, we’ll be able to glimpse the brilliant annual phenomena for three nights.
According to Almanac, the harvest moon will appear from Thursday, September 28, to Saturday, September 30. It’s said to reach its peak illumination in the wee hours of 4:58 am on Friday, September 29, but just remember to look up to the skies any time after dark for a glimpse.
So, lovers of space and stars, prepare your outdoor chairs because the last full moon before autumn is going to be a sight to behold.
According to NASA, the name ‘harvest moon’ is an old European name that came about as far back as 1706, when Maine Farmers Almanac published older native-American names for full moons.
The Harvest Moon is an old European name with the Oxford English Dictionary giving 1706 as the year of its first published use. Most years the Harvest Moon falls in September, though last year it appeared in October.
“According to this almanac, as the full Moon in October and the first full Moon of fall, the Algonquin tribes in what is now the northeastern USA called this the Travel Moon, the Dying Grass Moon, or the Sanguine or Blood Moon,” they explained.
“Some sources indicate that the Dying Grass, Sanguine, and Blood Moon names are related to the turning of the leaves and dying back of plants with the start of fall.”
So, set your alarms and take in the stunning moon while you can! It will appear full for about three days, from Thursday, September 28, to Saturday, September 30.