The Harvest Moon is traditionally referred to as the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which in 2023, fell on September 23 at 8:50 a.m. Italian time. However, the Harvest Moon does not always occur in September. Approximately every three years, it graces the October sky, as it did on October 1, 2020.
The term 'Harvest Moon' originates from the Native American tradition, specifically the Algonquin tribe, who used the moonlight of the full moon to prolong their harvest work into the night. Nevertheless, the Harvest Moon also goes by another name, the Corn Moon, signifying that one of the primary harvests of September was corn.
The Harvest Moon held significant importance for Native American tribes. According to Timeanddate, on average, a full moon rises around sunset, approximately 50 to 73 minutes later each day, the time it takes for the moon to transition through all its phases. However, near the autumnal equinox, the moon rises closer to the time of sunset on subsequent nights.
This occurrence is due to the moon's orbit being more parallel to the horizon around the autumnal equinox, causing little change in the relationship to the eastern horizon where celestial bodies rise from day to day.
For mid-temperate latitudes, the full moon rises around 20-25 minutes later each day for several days before and after the Harvest Moon. While this may seem insignificant, it enables the moon to rise in the east soon after sunset on nights following a Harvest Moon, creating an awe-inspiring early evening moonlit spectacle.
For high northern latitudes, such as Anchorage, Alaska (61 degrees north latitude), the moonrise time remains nearly the same for a week. This early moonrise enabled ancient tribes to extend their evening harvest time, signifying the critical importance of the Harvest Moon.
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