Okay, this is the last one, we promise…for now.
This year’s Harvest Moon, set to rise on Friday, September 29th, is a special moon. Not only will it be the last supermoon of 2023, it’s also the fourth supermoon we’ve seen this year!
According to NASA, the name behind ‘Harvest Moon’ comes from a time before electricity, when the farmers had to depend on the moon’s light to harvest their crops as late as they were able.
And because autumn marks the largest harvest and the supermoon occurs around the fall equinox, Harvest Moon suited perfectly!
As a reminder, the term “supermoon” refers to full moons that occur when the moon is closest to Earth in its orbit, an approach called perigee. The moon’s orbit around the earth isn’t a perfect circle, which is why there are times when it’s closer to us.
The moonrise is set at around 7:15 p.m. in Victoria on Friday, September 29th and will remain in the sky until 8:48 a.m. on Saturday, September 30th.
According to the Environment Canada weather forecast, Friday and Saturday call for clear skies and sunshine—fingers crossed it remains that way!
If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of this beautiful moon rising, you can do so at a number of locations with clear access to the sky.
In the past, Victoria Buzz has compiled lists of different places for the best view of the moon, and you can view those here!
As a bonus, Space.com has said the moon will be joined by “a parade of planets in the sky”— including Jupiter, Saturn, as well as Mercury. Keep an eye out for those too!
