Final supermoon of 2023 -- when to catch the full harvest moon in all its splendor
WASHINGTON (7News) — You might not want to miss this year's Harvest Moon as it will also be the fourth and final supermoon of 2023. If you miss out this time you won't have the opportunity to view another one until September 2024!
What is a supermoon? A supermoon is when the moon reaches its perigee (or the closest it gets to Earth) while also in a full moon phase. This means it will appear a bit bigger -- about 14% bigger to be exact.
MORE | CURRENT SKY CONDITIONS
So why is this moon known as the "Harvest Moon?" Native American tribes created the names for the full moon each month in order to keep track of the passing year.
The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the Autumnal Equinox and was coined because the moonlight helped farmers gather their crops despite the diminishing daylight hours. The autumnal equinox this year was on Saturday, Sept. 23.
The moon will be full (100% illumination) at 5:58 a.m. EST on Friday, Sept. 29, prior to moonset at 8:21 a.m. EST.
However, the First Alert Weather Team is tracking abundant clouds, so catching a glimpse may be tricky for some. But don't fret, skygazers can get a similar view of a newar full moon in the days leading up to the peak and for a few days after.
Make sure you share your Harvest Moon photos with 7News, so we can share them on-air and on social media.