The harvest moon is always one of the most beautiful full moons of the year. On Friday, some astronomers around the world will be treated with an additional advantage – the last lunar eclipse of 2016.
The full moon is closest to the autumnal equinox place is called the harvest moon and usually occurs in September and October occasionally. the harvest moon is called because it falls around time farmers in the northern hemisphere are harvesting their crops, according to Space.com. In many Asian countries, the harvest moon is celebrated with a national holiday three days.
Unfortunately for people in North and South America, the eclipse will not be visible and will have to wait until 2017 for the next eclipse. But people across Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia will have a ringside seat for the lunar phenomenon.
full moon this month has been dubbed the harvest moon because it is nearest the autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere. The increase of about half an hour later each night, it is said that the added light by the brightness of the full moon that farmers have more time to harvest their crops.
Last year, the harvest moon was also a super moon-when our natural satellite made its closest approach to Earth, and a spectacular reddish hue turned by a total lunar eclipse. This year, the Earth’s shadow will darken the moon, but in a more ethereal case known as penumbral eclipse.
A total eclipse of the moon is a highly dramatic affair, as the moon becomes dark red that slides through the cone deep, inner shadow or umbra of the Earth.
Because the sun is a great album rather than a single point of light, the shadow of our planet also has a lightweight outer cone, or prenumbra, which can also involve the moon. When this penumbral eclipse occurs, a subtle shading of the lunar disk is created.
The best views of eclipse harvest this week should be through Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the western Pacific basin. The deepest, darkest phase of the eclipse will come at 14:54 ET (18:54 GMT). For detailed graphics and times in your location, visit EclipseWise.com.
Because the darkening is so light, the best bet for spectators will use binoculars or telescopes to capture the influence of the Earth’s shadow as usual blankets gaze of the moon. Expect to see the effect of darkening start over the northern portion of the limb of the moon and on to 91 percent of your disk during its peak phase.
While not as flashy as a super blood moon eclipse, you should be sure to enjoy this week show-lunar eclipse is the last harvest moon of any kind we will see until 2024.
The next largest moon event for the eastern hemisphere will be January 31, 2018, when there will be a total eclipse of the moon.
While this penumbral lunar eclipse will not be as surprising as an umbra total eclipse, the moon is completely dark as the shadow of the Earth passes through it, they still provide some shade.
Venus Meets Spica. Here’s an observing challenge for skywatchers in tropical latitudes: After sunset on September 17 and 18, look for the bright planet Venus to pair up with Spica, the lead star of the constellation Virgo. The celestial pair will only be 2.5 degrees apart, or equal to the width of five full moon disks.
What will make this a bit tricky for viewers is that this conjunction will happen less than 10 degrees above the southwestern horizon. This will make the viewing time critical, as the duo will follow the sun quickly and sink below the horizon within 45 minutes of local sunset. Binoculars will also help keep the pair in easy view.
Because the shading is not so noticeable, it is easier to watch the eclipse with binoculars or telescopes.
The full moon in September is also known by the name of the full corn, barley moon, the moon, the moon and the moon worm crow.
