Here’s when to catch the best view of the fall’s ‘Harvest Moon’ in the St. Louis area
The 2022 Harvest Moon is coming up, and this bright full moon is one you can catch at a decent hour in the St. Louis area.
Visit a local public recreation area that’s open after dark, such as Bicentennial Park in Belleville, or cross the river to the Gateway Arch National Park to enjoy gazing at this festive celestial event.
Here’s what to know about the 2022 Harvest Moon, including when to see it this year and how it got its name.
When’s the best time to see the Harvest Moon?
This year’s harvest moon will peak Saturday, Sept. 10, though it’ll likely appear full to the human eye for a couple days before and after the date.
The best time to look east for the Harvest Moon is at moonrise, which will be around 7:50 p.m. in St. Louis Saturday.
You don’t need a telescope to see the Harvest Moon, and unlike recent meteor showers and other astronomical events, you won’t have to stay up particularly late or wake up early to catch a glimpse.
You can get a nice view at moonrise because it creates a “moon illusion,” Forbes reported. This is when the full moon appears larger than it actually is because you can see it on the horizon, potentially surrounded by trees and buildings.
Why is it called the Harvest Moon?
The “Harvest Moon” refers to the full moon that occurs closest to the fall equinox, which is Sept. 22 this year.
“The harvest moon gets its name from agriculture. In the days before electric lights, farmers depended on bright moonlight to extend the workday beyond sunset,” NASA’s website reads. “It was the only way they could gather their ripening crops in time for market.”
The first known use of this term in the English language was recorded in 1706, according to NASA. This moon is also called the Corn Moon, according to The Maine Farmers’ Almanac.
Indigenous Algonquin peoples (from what is now the northeastern U.S.) gave the September full moon the title of “Corn Moon” as it happened during harvest season for corn, pumpkins, squash, beans and wild rice.
Upcoming celestial events
Sept. 14 to 15 will be the shortest solar day of the year, according to NASA. The day will last only 23 hours, 59 minutes and 38.6 seconds.
Sept. 22 marks the Autumnal Equinox, “the astronomical end of summer and the start of fall,” NASA says. The sun will shift from the Northern to Southern Hemisphere.
The next full moon after the Harvest Moon will be Oct. 9 at 3:55 p.m.
Have a favorite public stargazing spot in the metro-east? Email mhoward@bnd.com with the location.
