By Rajni Pandey | September 17, 2024
On the night of September 17–18, 2024, the Sun, Earth, and Moon will align perfectly, creating a breathtaking Full Moon.
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A Full Moon happens when the Sun and Moon are positioned 180 degrees apart, fully illuminating the Moon's visible side. This event will peak on September 18 at 02:34 UTC.
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This Full Moon is called the Harvest Moon because it is the closest Full Moon to the autumnal equinox, occurring on September 22.
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Historically, it provided extra moonlight for farmers to harvest crops, and astronomically, it causes shorter moonrise intervals, offering more evening moonlight.
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The Harvest Moon will also be a Supermoon, occurring when the Moon is near its closest point to Earth, called perigee.
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At less than 360,000 km from Earth, a Supermoon appears larger and brighter, making this Moon even more magnificent.
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During this event, the Earth's shadow will partially cover the Moon, creating a partial lunar eclipse that will be visible during the night.
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Though only 4% of the Moon will be covered by Earth’s shadow, the effect will be striking, as one part of the Moon turns dark.
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Along with the eclipse, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars will be visible in the night sky, adding to the celestial spectacle.
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Saturn rises with the Moon, while Jupiter and Mars will follow later in the night, making it a perfect stargazing opportunity!
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