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Michigan missed out on a recent “blood moon” lunar eclipse, but just after the official start of fall the year’s first supermoon will rise in the night sky.
The harvest moon is the first of three consecutive full supermoons in 2025 and will peak at night on Oct. 6, according to Astronomy Magazine.
Set to come two weeks after the autumnal equinox, the harvest moon will provide several nights of bright moonlight in early October, the Old Farmer’s Almanac says.
Keep an eye out for clear skies to ensure ideal viewing in Michigan, with the full moon expected to appear larger, lower on the horizon, EarthSky and the Old Farmer’s Almanac both said.
Here’s what to know about the harvest moon.
Is the harvest moon a supermoon?
Yes, the harvest moon will be the first full supermoon of 2025, according to Moon Phase Today.
Why is it called a harvest moon?
The harvest moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox, either in September or October, typically in September, though this year will be in early October, EarthSky says.
The proximity to the equinox creates the “harvest moon effect,” as the full or nearly full moon rises near sunset for several nights in a row around the time of the harvest, creating bright moonlight from dusk to dawn, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, Astronomy Magazine and EarthSky.
When will the harvest moon peak?
The harvest moon will peak during at night at 11:47 p.m. on Oct. 6, 2025.
How did the harvest moon get its name?
The time traditionally represented an ideal period for farmers to harvest their crops later into the night, hence the name harvest moon, the Old Farmer’s Almanac says.
When is the autumnal equinox?
The fall equinox — the end of summer and start of fall 2025 — takes place at 2:19 p.m. Sept. 22, 2025, the Old Farmer’s Almanac said.
What phase of the lunar cycle is the moon in now?
The moon is currently in its waning gibbous phase, at 94% illumination, according to Space.com. The moon’s next phases in September 2025 are:
When are the remaining supermoons in 2025?
The next full supermoons will peak Nov. 5 and Dec. 4, according to Moon Phase Today.
How far away from the Earth is the moon?
The average distance between the Earth and the moon is 238,855 miles.
At its farthest from the Earth, the moon is about 252,088 miles away and astronomers say it’s at apogee.
When the moon is at perigee, it’s 225,623 miles away.
When is the next full moon?
The beaver moon, also a supermoon, will peak Nov. 5, 2025.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan will see a supermoon in October. When to see the harvest moon
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