Space City is in store for a stellar show this September with the appearance of the Harvest Moon this Tuesday. Not only will the harvest moon be a full moon, but it will also be a super moon and, in some places, a partial lunar eclipse.
Read on to discover more about how to see the Super Harvest Moon and partial lunar eclipse in Houston.
What is the Harvest Moon?
The Harvest Moon is the closest full moon to the autumnal equinox – typically occurring in late September though it sometimes happens in October. In earlier times, the Harvest Moon would provide farmers with additional necessary light to work later in the evening. The name ‘Harvest Moon’ can be traced back to 1706 when it was first published in the Maine Farmer’s Almanac.
Other names for the Harvest Moon include:
- The Corn Moon
- Fruit Moon
- Barley Moon
- Madhu Purnima Moon
- Mid-Autumn Moon
- Mooncake Moon
- Reunion Festival Moon
- Chuseok Moon
- Imomeigetsu Moon
- Potato Harvest Moon
What is a Super Moon?
A super moon occurs when a full moon in 27-day elliptical orbit reaches its closest distance to Earth, within 90%, called perigee. As a result, the super moons appear the biggest and brightest moons of the year – around 7% larger than average.
The super Harvest Moon on Tuesday will be the second of four super moons to occur this year.
What is a Partial Lunar Eclipse?
A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the moon enters the darkest part of the Earth’s shadow called its umbra. When the moon enters the umbra, a portion of it is darkened, while the rest remains illuminated. Many refer to this effect as a “bite taken out of the moon”.
During a total lunar eclipse, the moon in its entirety passes through the Earth’s umbra, resulting in a reddish hue.
The partial lunar eclipse has three phases: penumbral, umbral, and second penumbral.
- The first penumbral phase occurs when the Earth’s lighter outer shadow passes the moon, resulting in a dimming effect
- The umbral phase is when part of the moon passes into the darkest center of the Earth’s shadow, resulting in starker contrast
- The second penumbral phase is when Earth’s lighter shadow pulls away from the moon where its brightness returns
When does the Partial Lunar Eclipse occur?
The partial lunar eclipse will begin around 7:40 pm and reach peak illumination at 9:44 pm Tuesday, September 17.
At this time, full shadow will obscure around 8% of the moon’s surface – giving the appearance of “a bite out of the moon”.
According to Forbes, the partial lunar eclipse may even result in the moon taking on a reddish tint. The partial lunar eclipse will end at around 10:15 pm Tuesday.
Will I be able to see the Partial Lunar Eclipse in Houston?
While there are conflicting reports on exactly where the partial lunar eclipse will be visible in North America, many reports suggest – including Space – that the partial lunar eclipse will be visible in North America except for Alaska.
See also: 14 fantastic things to do this fall in Houston