harvest moon

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harvest moon

harvest moon full moon occurring nearest to the autumnal equinox , about Sept. 23. During harvest moon the retardation (later rising each night) of the moon is at a minimum because of the relation of the moon's path to the horizon. On several nights in succession the moonrise is at nearly the same time, and there is full moonlight almost from sunset to sunrise if the sky is unclouded.

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harvest Moon

A Dictionary of Astronomy | 1997 | Â© A Dictionary of Astronomy 1997, originally published by Oxford University Press 1997. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

harvest Moon The full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox (September23), when the Moon rises around the time of sunset for several nights in succession. This is because the ecliptic, and hence the Moon's orbit, is then at its minimum angle to the horizon at the time of moonrise in mid- or high northern latitudes. The harvest Moon is so named because its light in the evening was of help to workers at harvest time. See also retardation.

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