What Is A Harvest Moon?
QUICK ANSWER
The Harvest Moon is the full moon that falls closest to the autumn equinox, usually in September but sometimes early October. Pre-electricity farmers used its bright light to extend harvesting late into the evening. The Harvest Moon rises shortly after sunset for several consecutive nights.
The Harvest Moon is one of the most famous full moons, with origins in pre-electric farming traditions. Unlike most full moon names which are tied to specific months, the Harvest Moon floats; it's defined by its proximity to the autumn equinox. The Harvest Moon has a unique observable property that made it especially valuable to farmers: for several nights, it rises only shortly after sunset.
What defines the Harvest Moon?
Closeness to autumn equinox. According to NASA, the term harvest moon refers to the full, bright Moon that occurs closest to the start of autumn. The autumn equinox falls around September 22-23 each year. Whichever full moon is nearest to that date (sometimes in late September, occasionally in early October) gets the Harvest Moon name. This is different from most full moon names, which are tied to specific months. In years when the equinox is between two full moons, the closer one wins the title.
Why was it important for farmers?
Extended harvesting time. NASA notes the name dates from the time before electricity, when farmers depended on the Moon's light to harvest their crops late into the night. The Moon's light was particularly important during fall, when harvests are the largest. The bright full moon rising near sunset provided several extra hours of working light, allowing farmers to gather more crops before frost. With harvests timed to autumn weather, this extra light could make a real difference in how much food was secured for winter.
What's special about how it rises?
Several consecutive nights of moonrise near sunset. The Harvest Moon's special property comes from the geometry of the Moon's orbit relative to Earth's tilt and the autumn equinox. Normally, the Moon rises about 50 minutes later each night. But around the autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, this delay drops to as little as 25-30 minutes. So the full Moon rises shortly after sunset for three or four consecutive nights, providing extended evening light. This effect doesn't happen at other times of year.
Where else does the name appear?
European and American traditions. The Harvest Moon name has roots in both Native American (Algonquin) traditions and Old European traditions. In Asia, the equivalent moon is celebrated as the Mid-Autumn Festival or Mooncake Festival in Chinese culture. The Neil Young song Harvest Moon (1992) helped cement the name in popular culture. The Maine Farmer's Almanac popularized the name in 1930s. Today, NASA regularly references the Harvest Moon in press releases when it occurs.
The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, usually in September but sometimes early October. Pre-electricity, farmers used its bright light to harvest crops late into the evening. Its special property is that it rises only 25-30 minutes later each night for several consecutive nights, instead of the usual 50, giving extended evening light. The name has roots in both Native American and European farming traditions.
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