harvest moon

A cow silhouettes against the almost full moon on 23 September 2018 in Aitrang, southern Germany. Photo: AFP/Karl-Josef Hildenbrand

Harvest Moon 2019: September’s full moon falls on unlucky Friday the 13th

September’s full moon – the Harvest Moon – will be the smallest moon in 2019. It also falls on unlucky Friday the 13th.

harvest moon

A cow silhouettes against the almost full moon on 23 September 2018 in Aitrang, southern Germany. Photo: AFP/Karl-Josef Hildenbrand

It’s the first time in more than 80 years – 84 years, to be exact – that a full Harvest Moon falls on unlucky Friday the 13th. Unfortunately, the Southern Hemisphere is missing out on this one.

The full Harvest Moon falls closest to the autumnal equinox with the last occurrence taking place in 1935. The next time this happens, will be in the year 2171. This year’s full Harvest moon will also be a Micromoon.

What is a Micromoon

According to Time And Date, A Micromoon “happens when a Full Moon or a New Moon coincides with an apogee.” An apogee is the point in the Moon’s orbit the farthest away from Earth.

Because the moon is further away from Earth, it appears approximately 14% smaller, and 13% less brighter than a Supermoon.

Why is it called Harvest moon?

The names of full moons are derived from the 1930s Maine Farmers Almanac, which uses Native American names each for month’s full moon. The name was derived from both colonists and Algonquin-speaking tribes.

The Harvest moon was named after the time of year when corn was harvested. Therefore, it’s also known as the Full Corn Moon.

“In the days before tractors with headlights, having moonlight to work by was crucial to getting the harvest in quickly before rain caused it to rot.”

Alan MacRobert

The significance of the Full Harvest Moon

Before the days of electric light, farmers depended on the bright moonlight to extend the workday beyond sunset.

“Working by moonlight was the only way they could gather their ripening crops in time for market, so the full moon was always a welcome sight.”

Sophie Curtis

In the Southern hemisphere, the September full equinox ushers in the spring season. While the Harvest Moon marks the autumnal equinox in the Northern hemisphere, our autumnal equinox will fall on 9 March 2020.

When is the Full Harvest Moon?

This month, the moment when the Harvest Moon is exactly 180 degrees opposite the Sun in ecliptic longitude falls on 14 September 2019, at 4:33 Universal Time, or 6:33 South African Standard Time.

However, the period known as the full Harvest Moon stretches from 12 September to 13 September.

When is the next full moon?

You’ll only have to wait another month. The next full moon will appear on 13 October. It is known as Hunters Moon, or Blood Moon, as it traditionally marked the start of the hunting season.

Old folklore accounts suggested that Micromoons affect human mental health and bring on natural disasters, such as earthquakes. However, no scientific evidence supports any such correlation.

Also read – Friday the 13th: Why the date is considered unlucky