The rare Harvest Moon will be visible in Stirling on September 29. Following shortly after the Blue Supermoon, Stirling residents have no shortage of night-time phenomena.
What is the Harvest Moon?
The Harvest Moon refers to the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox. Usually occurring around the end of September, this moon is rare as it can be seen rising at similar times for several days in a row.
Regular moon activity shows that the moon rises, on average, 50 minutes later each day. This can trick us into thinking we have had several full moons in a row.
Why is it called the Harvest Moon?
The Harvest Moon was named before electricity existed. Farmers used the extra moonlight to work on their crops and harvest for longer, hence the name.
Keep an eye on the sky
After the rare blue Supermoon on August 30, sky-watching fanatics will be pleased to hear that more night-time events are coming up.
The Blue Supermoon was visible across the globe and thanks to the clear conditions, Stirling witnessed it too. This moon appeared brighter and larger than normal and won’t be seen again until 2037.
Orionid meteors will hopefully be visible during October, peaking on October 21. For spotting meteor showers, it is best to go somewhere with little to no light pollution. In Stirling, there are plenty of spots just off the town centre that would be perfect.
Also in October, a partial lunar eclipse should be visible in the UK. It will occur on October 28, with the maximum coverage happening at 09:15pm. Unfortunately, we will only see a small section of the moon pass through Earth’s umbra (the darkest part of Earth’s shadow), but it is still a sight to see.
Wrapping up the year nicely is a Geminid meteor shower. These showers can be seen all year round; however, they peak between December 14 and 15. The best time to view the meteors is at sunrise.
Featured Image Credit: Star Walk
Second year student journalist studying Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Journalism Studies.
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