The first of three supermoons set to gleam extra bright in our night sky is here.
This month’s full moon, called the Harvest moon due to its proximity to the autumnal equinox, will reach peak illumination at 8:47 p.m. PDT on Monday, Oct. 6, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Since it’s a supermoon, it’ll appear “especially large and bright in the sky,” according to NASA.
For stargazers eager to see the special view, here’s when the moon rises in select cities in California on Oct. 6, according to Time and Date:
What is a Harvest moon? October full moon meaning
Unlike other full moons, the Harvest moon name could either be applied to a September full moon or an October full moon. That’s because the Harvest Moon name is applied to whichever full moon occurs closest to the autumnal equinox, which was on Sept. 22, said the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
“For several evenings, the moon rises very soon after the sun sets, resulting in an abundance of bright moonlight early in the evening,” the almanac said. “Traditionally, this extra light aided farmers and crews in harvesting their summer-grown crops. Hence, it’s called the ‘Harvest’ Moon!”
But there are other names for this month’s full moon used by other cultures, including the Hunter’s moon and the Drying Rice moon, according to the almanac.
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: What time is the full moon tonight? See when the supermoon rises in California
Reporting by Paris Barraza, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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