What Is A Micromoon? Rare Full Moon To Appear On Friday The 13th

A rare variation of the full moon is set to grace the night sky in the U.S. this Friday the 13th. Known as the “harvest micromoon,” it is a combination of the harvest and micro varieties of the full moon.

A harvest moon is a full moon that appears at the height of the fall harvest season, which according to the Farmer’s Almanac, allows farmers to work later thanks to the moon’s light.

A micromoon, meanwhile, is a full moon that occurs when the moon is at its furthest point from Earth, making it appear 14 percent smaller than its counterpart, the supermoon, which occurs when the moon is closest to the earth. Friday’s full moon will be the rare combination of both.

Those living on the East Coast will reportedly be able to see the harvest micromoon at its smallest at 12:33 a.m. on Saturday. Residents of the Alaskan, Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones will be able to see it just before midnight.

Another rare aspect of Friday’s full moon is that it will be taking place on the infamous Friday the 13th, a date known to bring out people’s superstitions. A full moon on this ominous date won't take place again until Aug. 13, 2049.