The night sky will host a stunning spectacle this Monday, October 6, as the first supermoon of the year — known as the Harvest Moon — makes its appearance. Reaching peak illumination at approximately 11:48 p.m. ET, this full moon promises to offer skygazers a bright and slightly larger lunar view, thanks to its close approach to Earth, also known as perigee.
The term “Harvest Moon” refers to the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox. Historically, its bright light allowed farmers to extend harvesting hours after sunset. This year’s Harvest Moon also marks the beginning of a trio of consecutive supermoons, making it a notable event for both astronomy enthusiasts and casual observers.
“The joy of a full moon is that if it’s cloudy in your neighborhood on Monday night, you can look Tuesday, and the moon will still appear nearly full,” said Noah Petro, project scientist for NASA’s Artemis III mission. Petro also emphasized the importance of observing the moon over time to notice its subtle changes.
This lunar event follows NASA’s recent announcement of its next astronaut class, and comes just months ahead of the Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts on a historic lunar flyby early next year. “What makes the moon coming up on October 6 so special,” Petro noted, “is that we’re not only looking at the moon — soon, we’ll be sending people back to it.”
In addition to the supermoon, skywatchers can look forward to several other celestial events in the coming months, including two more supermoons and multiple meteor showers.
Upcoming supermoons:
– November 5: Beaver Moon
– December 4: Cold Moon
Meteor showers to watch:
– Draconids: October 8–9
– Orionids: October 20–21
– Southern Taurids: November 4–5
– Northern Taurids: November 11–12
– Leonids: November 16–17
– Geminids: December 13–14
– Ursids: December 21–22
Whether you’re a seasoned astronomer or a casual skywatcher, October’s Harvest Supermoon offers a perfect opportunity to reconnect with the night sky — and with humanity’s enduring fascination with the Moon.