Later today, the jetstream is expected to carry smoke from remote wildfires in the West to New England, creating a vibrant sunset. The increased dust in the air gives the moon and the sunset a vibrant reddish or orange hue. There is nothing to worry about since there is no health risk because the plumes will be widely distributed once they reach the region.

Harvest Moon 2022 on Weekends

The nearly full harvest moon rises in the east-southeast. It will be full until just before 6 a.m. on Saturday. Yet, the reddish tint on the moon will be seen on Friday night in parts of New England. When the moon rises near the horizon shortly after sunset, it will appear larger than when it is high in the sky, making this the perfect moment to observe the full moon.

According to Space, those who reside in the Northern Hemisphere can see the moon when it reaches its fullness at 180 degrees opposite the sun. The event happens on Saturday at 5:59 a.m. Eastern Time. This year's full moon on Saturday falls in September because it is the one that is closest to the September equinox.

According to NASA, the term "Harvest Moon" has been used to describe the full moon in September since at least 1706. Additionally, some farmers have used the full moon's light to work late into the night harvesting their crops. This full moon is the closest to the fall equinox when many crops are harvested in the Northern Hemisphere.

Full Moon in 2022

After this month, the next full moon will be the hunter's moon, which falls on Oct. 9, according to LiveScience. After four consecutive supermoons during the summer, the moon is back to being a regular old full moon. 

A supermoon is a full moon that rises during the moon's closest approach to Earth during its orbit, giving the moon a larger and brighter appearance in the sky than a typical full moon. The last supermoon of 2022 was the Sturgeon Moon in August.

Harvest Moon Full Moon
(Photo : David Mark)
Harvest Moon Full Moon

ALSO READ: Where Did the Name "Harvest Moon" Come From?

Saturday Events During Harvest Moon 2022

The International Space Station will pass overhead between 4:56 and 5:01 a.m. on Saturday morning. With a maximum altitude of 64 degrees above the horizon, it will travel from the west-northwest toward the southeast.

Even though it will be a little warmer and a little more humid, Saturday will still be a great day. One thing to remember is that the wave action will be a little harsher than usual if you plan to visit the beaches, especially those near the South Coast and Cape Cod. We anticipate swells from Hurricane Earl in the distance of 5 to 7 feet.

Jupiter and Saturn will also be visible this weekend, in addition to the full moon, according to USA Today. The two planets, Jupiter and Saturn, will be visible to the left and right of the moon, respectively. Jupiter is brighter between the two planets. 

Sunday will have more clouds than Saturday, but there is still a low probability of rain.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: September 2022 Big Stargazing Events: Watch Jupiter Through Naked Eyes, Witness Rare Uranus and Moon Occultation and the Harvest Moon

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