what is the harvest moon

The Harvest Moon is the full moon that appears closest to the autumnal equinox, which occurs around September 22 or 23 each year. It is not a different type of moon but gains its name because historically, its light provided extra illumination for farmers to work late into the night bringing in their crops during the harvest season. Due to the moon's orbit angle near the equinox, the Harvest Moon rises at nearly the same time for several successive evenings, resulting in brighter nights longer than usual, aiding agricultural activities. In some years, such as 2025, this full moon and the Harvest Moon may coincide with a supermoon, making it appear larger and brighter than usual. The Harvest Moon has significant cultural importance as it marks the transition into fall and has been observed and named by Native American tribes and farmers' almanacs to track the seasons.