Moon Reflection

Harvest Moon

Why is the harvest moon called the Harvest Moon?

The Harvest Moon is a full moon that graces our skies each autumn. It’s the name for the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox. In the northern hemisphere, look for the Harvest Moon to appear in September or October.

Why the name Harvest Moon? It’s more than just a connection to the season of harvest. In fact, nature is particularly cooperative during the months of autumn to make the Harvest Moon useful to farmers.

Here’s what happens. The moon generally rises about 50 minutes later each day. But near the time of the autumnal equinox, the moon rises only about 30 minutes later each day. Why? The reason is that, in autumn, the ecliptic – or path of the sun, moon and planets – makes a narrow angle with the evening horizon. The moon’s path in autumn creates a shorter-than-usual rising time between successive moonrises.

The shorter-than-usual time between moonrises means there is no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise . . .

So, in the days before tractor lights, the autumn full moon helped farmers bringing in their crops.

As the sun’s light faded in the west, the full moon would rise in the east to illuminate the fields for several more hours of work. Who named the Harvest Moon? That name probably sprang to the lips of farmers throughout the northern hemisphere, on autumn evenings, as the autumn full moon aided in bringing in the crops.

http://www.earthsky.org/faq/harvest-moon