Is Harvest Moon in the US a Supermoon?

a. Harvest Moon

b. Blue Moon

c. Hunter’s Moon

d. Both a and c are the same

e. None of the above

 

17th Sept marks the special occasion for those with their eyes to the sky. This year’s harvest moon, the last full moon before the 2016 autumnal equinox on Sept 22, is slated to appear.

• Controversy has also erupted over whether this should be considered a supermoon


• The term supermoon was coined in 1979 by astrologer Richard Nolle


• It is used to denote a moon which is within 90 percent of its closest orbit to the earth


• Both full moons and new moons can be considered super, though full ones appear slightly bigger than usual


• NASA astrophysicist Fred Espanek has considered supermoons on the basis of average from monthly projections of the moon’s orbit while Nolle’s is based on yearly means; so while this harvest moon is called a super moon by Espanek, it does not make it to Nolle’s list.


• Harvest moon is not a scientific term; it basically came from some cultures in the Northern Hemisphere because it was seen as a prelude to fall and marked the end of the growing season
  
• The first full moon after the autumn equinox is sometimes called hunter’s moon


• The moon will hit full swing at 3:05 PM EDT and marks the closet full moon to the autumnal equinox or the start of the northern autumn


• In Europe, Africa and Asia the moon will appear darker on account of a penumbral lunar eclipse beginning at 10:30 pm IST


• A video by Science Mission Directorate with NASA explains how folklore gave different names for different full moons


• For each full moon that comes once every month, there are 12 interesting names. These include snow moon, worm moon, strawberry moon and sprouting grass moon


• September full moon for its name from farmers working into the night when many crops ripen and having only the light of the moon to guide them.


• Throughout the year, the moon rises on an average about one hour late each day. When it is closest to the autumnal equinox (Sept 22 in northern hemisphere and March 20 in southern), as in the case of the harvest moon, the gap lessens to thirty minutes.

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