Full Moon October 2020: What Time And Where To Watch Harvest Moon?

The next full moon the Earth will be seeing is the harvest moon. It is set to be seen on Oct. 1, 2020 (Thursday) at 5:05 p.m. EDT.

The name "harvest moon" refers to the full, bright moon that occurs nearest to the start of autumn. The term dates back to the time before electricity was available, and farmers depended on the light of the moon when harvesting at night. Harvests are known to be the largest during fall, so farmers considered the harvest moon as an important part of their livelihood.

With the rise of technology and the birth of electricity most farmers no longer need to rely solely on moonlight during harvests, but the harvest moon has still retained its importance and appeal across different cultures.

The harvest moon is very much anticipated in different parts of the world and will be visible for about three days -- from Wednesday to Saturday. For observers in New York City, the harvest moon will rise at 6:57 p.m. local time and set the next morning at 7:23 a.m. It is also expected to rise at around 20 minutes after sunset, according to Space.com. The moon's maximum altitude will also reach 47 degrees given that it is the season of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

For watchers in the Southern Hemisphere like Melbourne, Australia, the full moon will occur at 7:05 a.m. local time on October 2, rising at 6:41 p.m.

Alongside the rise of the harvest moon, planets are also expected to be seen, with Venus rising at 3:31 a.m. in New York City on Thursday, and will still be bright enough to remain visible even as the sky becomes lit.

Mars, on the other hand, will rise at 7:26 p.m. EDT and follow our natural satellite. During this time, the two will appear to approach each other slowly through the course of the night, Space.com noted. Jupiter and Saturn will also be visible in New York and are set to be in the western half of the sky by 8:00 p.m. local time.

The harvest moon is associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival in some Asian countries, a traditional harvest festival. It is also celebrated alongside the Reunion Festival in China, with wives visiting their parents, then returning to celebrate with their husband and his parents. In Korea, however, this full moon corresponds with the harvest festival Chuseok, during which Koreans leave the cities to visit their hometowns and pay respects to their ancestors.

The harvest moon is also known as the Hunter's Moon because it is during this time when the season for hunting game begins. The Algonquin tribes, on the other hand, call this the Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, or Sanguine or Blood Moon and is thought to be related to the turning of leaves and dying of plants that occur along the start of autumn.