September is synonymous with cultural rrentée, the return to classes and to work. After a period of vacation, sun and beach, it seems that everything is back to ‘normal’… Or almost everything, because there are two spectacular astronomical phenomena coming up: the “Harvest Moon” (which this year is a supermoon) and a partial lunar eclipse.
The two events will take place at dawn on Wednesday, September 18. If you want to observe them, then the best thing to do is to be away from light pollution, check the weather conditions and make sure you’re in a spot with a clear field of vision (for example, without trees and/or giant buildings).
What is it and why is it called Harvest Moon?
After the Blue Supermoon in August, September brings us another Supermoon. This is known as the Corn Moon or the Harvest Moon, the latter being one of the most common names.
The origin of the name
According to NASA, the name “Harvest Moon” originated in the 1930s, when the Maine Farmers Almanac published names used by the Indians of North America.
In this case, the name is due to the fact that it appears in a common season for harvesting the main crops, such as corn, squash, beans and wild rice.
When will the “Harvest Moon” be visible?
According to National Geographic, the September supermoon will occur at 1:43 a.m. on September 18, reaching its peak in Lisbon and Funchal at 3:43 a.m. and 2:43 a.m., respectively.
Partial lunar eclipse
On the same night, there is yet another astronomical phenomenon to further embellish the skies: the partial lunar eclipse.
According to National Geographic, this should occur between 1:12 and 2:15, near the peak of the Harvest Supermoon. In this context, the lunar satellite is likely to be partially dark.