17 Harvest Moon Facts: You Should Read About This!

Concomitant to the autumnal equinox, Harvest Moon is the name given to the full moon that materializes nearest to the equinox.

We all know so much about the moon or do we? Harvest Moon is one such subject that we are not very aware.

Generally, the Harvest Moon occurs in the month of September or October but it is influenced by the arrangement of the lunar cycle with the Gregorian calendar. The Harvest Moon is believed to be a symbol of the inception of the fall in the Northern Hemisphere.

2021 saw the rise of Harvest Moon in late September; hope you didn’t miss it, because it is eye-capturing.

The Harvest Moon is also said to cause what is called the 'the moon illusion'. No, this does not mean you will have some defects after looking at it.

All it signifies is, due to its timing of appearing near sunset and for a few consecutive nights, the moon will emerge colossal from the hemisphere than it seems high in the sky.

Read on to know more about the different types of moons visible in the night sky. Afterward, also check Europa Moon facts and what is the Moon made of? 

Autumnal Equinox: Harvest Moon

Let us begin by addressing the question that we are sure was the first one to have popped in your mind: Why the name 'Harvest Moon'? In earlier times, people used to keep track of time by looking at when the sun rises and when it sets.

Similarly, since the Harvest Moon comes well before the usual time or right at sunset, the Harvest Moon would be intensely bright which helped the farmers in harvesting crops for a longer period of time and even at night. Due to the moon’s light, farmers could harvest till late at night.

Hence, it is believed that this is the reason for the name 'Harvest Moon'.

The moon that rises when the time of the year is closest to fall is called Harvest Moon.

The moon marks the transition from summer to fall and the beginning of the harvest season.

In some cultures, the moon is given the name ‘Barley Moon’ and also ‘Corn Moon’.

Cool Facts About Harvest Moon

Moon is as pretty as anything can get and you might even find yourself staring at it for a long time, several times a year. Did you know there are variations in the types of moons as well? You might be looking at one moon at the beginning of the year but another at the end.

Everything about the moon is so cool, don’t you think? Well if you don’t, it is just a matter of time because we bring to you some cool facts on the Harvest Moon, from why it is called so to what significance it holds, everything.

It allowed farmers, in ancient times, to harvest for a longer duration and save their crops from turning fragile by harvesting them in time with the help of the Harvest Moon’s light which shed enough brightness to let the farmers finish their work and be satisfied with feeding their families.

The Harvest Moon seems like it is orange in color but is it? The moon appears orange when you glare at it from close to the horizon. And when you do that, you are looking at the moon from the thickness of the Earth’s atmosphere, and thus the color changes.

Reasons For Harvest Moon

When the autumnal equinox is about to take place, the inclination of the moon’s orbit correlative to the horizon of the Earth is at its minimum.

As a consequence of this, the full moon rises above the horizon promptly and ahead of time than it rises typically.

Importance Of Harvest Moon

Let us now address what is this significance we have been talking about above. Before that, have you ever wondered how the timing of a moon could even have some significance other than, of course,  that the moon rises at night?

Isn’t it amazing how nature does so much for us and we spend all our lives without realizing it? The point is, let us be more thankful for our environment and make a new beginning every time the sun rises and go to sleep with satisfaction about our achievements of the day, with the moon.

Food is a basic necessity. The survival of the people depends on the harvest done by a farmer who then feeds his family; the better the harvest, the happier the families.

Did you know, the Harvest Moon is so significant that there are literal festivals celebrated on its arrival. What are those festivals?

First is the ‘Mid-Autumn festival’ which is also known as the ‘Moon Festival’ and ‘Mooncake Festival’. This is most famously celebrated in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam among other communities living outside these territories.

Some countries have a holiday on this occasion like Japan, Korea, and other Southeast Asia nations. In China, this festival is so renowned that it is commemorated with the same enthusiasm as the Chinese New Year.

As per the Farmers' Almanac, the ‘Harvest Moon Benefit Festival’ is wherein the people enjoy the music festival organized in Cincinnati, Ohio, every year. The main purpose of this is to feed the homeless and hungry.

The Harvest Moon occurs closest full moon during the autumn equinox. Autumn lasts from September to December.

The nights are comparatively longer. The sunset light during the early evening makes the sky look orange at the same time.

Many full moons rise at nearly on several evenings and successive nights. The first full moon occurs as the first perfect circle during autumn, and it appears bigger than its apparent size due to the moon's path and moon's position being near the horizon and emitting more light since the moon is nearest to Earth.

The moon travels farther north and it becomes visible at a narrow-angle and disappears eventually. The Harvest Moons last a few nights before disappearing for several nights in a row during the fall equinox.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Harvest Moon facts, then why not take a look at moon child meaning, or moons of Neptune?