Home » Education & Career » Science for Kids » The Harvest Moon

The Harvest Moon

© Mary M. Alward

As you already know, there is a lot to learn about the moon. For centuries, the moon has been used by people. They've used it to tell the weather, to make horoscopes and to know when to plant and harvest their crops. Many farmers today still use the moon for this purpose.

The Harvest Moon was named because it rises within a half-hour of when the sun sets. It is the full moon closest to the fall equinox, which this year occurs on September 22nd. In the early days, when farmers had no tractors, they used the light of the moon to bring in the fall harvest. Thus the name - Harvest Moon.

When you gaze at the Harvest Moon it looks very large. It gives a lot of light throughout the entire night. No other lunar spectacle is quite as awesome as the Harvest Moon. There's nothing in the world like standing under the harvest moon and gazing at this magnificent orb.

The Harvest Moon usually appears in September. Once in a while it appears as a full moon early in October. It rides very low in the sky, which is why it appears to be so large. It often has a pink or orange cast to it. There's nothing quite like gazing at the Harvest Moon.

If the Harvest Moon falls in September, it is also known as the Fruit Moon. If it falls in early October, it is also referred to as the Hunter's Moon. This is because October is the month when large animals like deer, bear, elk and moose were hunted for the winter's meat supply. If hunted before that time, it was believed the meat would taste wild or "strong."

The Harvest Moon only appears in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere. In the southern Hemisphere, the exact opposite occurs. The moon rides high in the sky and is very small.

There are many more things to learn about the moon, but now you know if you are outside a half-hour before the sun sets in September or early October, and see a large moon in the sky that has a pink or orange hue, you are looking at the Harvest Moon.

Author's Note:

Have you ever heard the term, "Once in a Blue Moon?" Well, a Blue Moon occurs when there are two full moons in the same month. The second full moon of that month is known as the Blue Moon. This happens only once a year. Be sure to check out the next Blue Moon in August, 2005. No Blue Moon will occur in the years 2006, 2011, 2014, or 2017.

The copyright of the article The Harvest Moon in Science for Kids is owned by Mary M. Alward. Permission to republish The Harvest Moon in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.