COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County residents will have a front-row seat to a stunning celestial display this weekend as the full Harvest Moon takes center stage tonight,.
Following the recent autumnal equinox, the autumn moon will rise in the eastern sky right around sunset, lighting up local fields and neighborhood communities.
While the moon technically reaches its peak daytime illumination at 12:49 p.m., it will remain virtually 100% lit through Saturday evening.
Unlike ordinary full moons that rise roughly 50 minutes later each night, the Harvest Moon is unique because its orbital angle allows it to rise only about 20 minutes later over consecutive evenings.
This creates a prolonged stretch of consecutive bright nights, a phenomenon that historically allowed area farmers to work well into the evening hours to bring in late-summer corn and crops.
Adding to Saturday’s spectacular view, early-autumn sky watchers will also find the planet Saturn shining brightly just below and to the left of the moon, that will be visible to the naked eye.
Comments