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Full moons are always a bundle of magic. This is the moment when the sole natural satellite of our Earth gets completely illuminated. The result is a perfect sphere that mesmerizes onlookers at night. While most experts deny any lunar influence on human behavior, some people feel different during these celestial shows. Folklore endowed a full moon with powers of inducing insomnia, insanity, and even turning people into werewolves. October prepared us the Harvest Moon which will peak on Friday.
The Harvest Moon Holds Numerous Exciting Peculiarities
On October 6, the moon will be a bright porthole in the dark fabric of the night. Each year, skywatchers are looking forward to this event. The Harvest Moon is the first full moon that appears around the autumnal equinox which already took place this year on September 22.
Usually, the first fall full moon happens in September. However, October booked the show in advance this year. Back days, farmers invested in a close relationship with nature. At the beginning of fall, they knew it was time to harvest the crops of late summer and early autumn.
As the moonlight follows the sunset shortly, farmers considered the first full moon of autumn as a guiding light. This is how this particular lunar phase was called Harvest. Another peculiarity of this annual moon stands in its timing. Usually, the lunar light appears with around 50 minutes delay each night. However, the full moon that celebrates the fall equinox shows up only 30 minutes after twilight.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, this celestial event is also capable of a beautiful illusion. After the Harvest Moon appears on its first night, it is in its habit to appear for several ulterior nights in a row. These apparitions create the impression that there are multiple full moons one after the other.
In the hope that the traditional mysticism of this astronomic event sparked your imagination, don’t forget to take a deeper look at the sky next Friday night. Until then, keep fingers crossed for a clear night!
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Jason Leathers
Jason is a graduate of Biology and Chemistry, who wishes he had more time to spend travelling, immersing himself in new cultures and enjoying the outdoors. He is keen on digging for the latest news pertaining to pharmacology, medical stories and science related topics. From delving into these sources to creating compelling stories that are attractive for his readers, Jason enjoys every moment of it.
