As we are heading towards the next month of the year 2020, people will be witnessing two full moons in October. While the full Harvest moon will be witnessed on October 1, the Hunter or Halloween moon will be seen on October 31.
What is a Harvest Moon?
On average, the moon rises about 50 minutes later each day. But when a full moon happens close to an autumn equinox, the moon rises closer to the time of sunset. For mid-temperate latitudes, it rises only about 25 to 30 minutes later daily for several days before and after the full Harvest Moon. The difference between 50 minutes and 30 minutes might not seem like much. But it means that, in the nights after a full Harvest Moon, you’ll see the moon ascending in the east relatively soon after sunset. The moon will rise during or near twilight on these nights, making it seem as if there are several full moons for a few nights in a row around the time of the Harvest Moon.
Harvest Moon Date and Time:
Harvest moon will appear in the night skies of October 1 intercepting October 2. It will peak at 5:05 p.m. EDT on Thursday. In Indian Standard Time it will be at 2:35 AM, October 2, Friday.
Why it is called Harvest Moon?
The Harvest Moon gets its name from the fact that it’s the closest full moon to the autumn equinox, also known as the first day of fall (September 22 this year). The Harvest Moon is typically associated with September. That means it will be the first of two full moons in October, which occurs only about once every three years.
