It’s the season of mooncakes! With mid-autumn festival round the corner, get ready to be enchanted by the celestial beauty of the Harvest Moon that will grace our skies on September 18.

The Harvest Moon will begin rising around 7.19pm on 18 September 2024 and should be at a good viewing height at around 9.30pm onwards in Singapore. So, gather your loved ones, some mooncakes and tea, and sit back as you enjoy the sight of the Harvest Moon this year!

Image: Pixabay

About Full moons, Supermoons, and Blue Moons

1. What is a Supermoon?

A Supermoon is a Full Moon that appears larger and brighter than usual. This phenomenon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth, making the moon appear nearly 6-7% larger than usual.

2. What is a Blue Moon?

There are two different definitions for a Blue Moon:

• Seasonal Blue Moon: There are just three Full Moons in an astronomical season. However, in some years there are four Full Moons in a season. As such in these rare occurrences, the third Full Moon is termed as a Blue Moon.
• Monthly Blue moon: In a calendar month when there are two Full Moons, the second one is termed as the Blue Moon.

About the upcoming Harvest Moon

1. What is the Harvest Moon and how did it get its name?

The Harvest Moon refers to the nearest full moon to the Autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and marks the start of the fall season.

There are many explanations for how the Harvest Moon got its name:

• During pre-industrial times where artificial light was not prevalent, the Harvest Moon is one that rises in the early evening and provides bright moonlight for farmers to harvest their crops in the evening.
• This Supermoon is also close to the autumn season and coincides with when the summer crops are ready to be harvested.

2. When will the Harvest Moon be visible?

The Harvest Moon will begin rising around 7.19pm on 18th September and should be at an easily appreciable height at around 9.30pm onwards in Singapore.

3. What are some myths and folklore associated with the Harvest Moon?

The Harvest Moon has great significance across different cultures around the world.

In Native American tradition, many tribes depended on the moon’s phases as a guide for their planting and harvesting activities. This full moon signifies a time of communal harvest festivals where people celebrate and express their gratitude for a good harvest that year.

In Japanese tradition, there is the practice of observing the Harvest Moon, known as the Tsukimi. Families gather to admire the moon’s beauty and express gratitude for the autumn harvest. This practice of observing September’s full moon occurs on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar.

This date also coincides with the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival where families and friends gather to enjoy mooncakes and observe the moon together.

4. Where is the best place to view the Harvest Moon?

Like most full moons, it should be easily visible anywhere in Singapore as long as the skies are clear. For an unobstructed and potentially elevated view of the Harvest Moon with panoramic views of the city skyline, visit open public areas like the Marina Barrage, East Coast Park, and the Southern Ridges.

5. Can the Supermoon be viewed with the naked eye?

Yes! It will be hard to miss these bright Supermoons in the night sky unless it’s a particularly cloudy day. However, it’s worth noting that the Moon’s appearance can vary depending on atmospheric conditions and your specific location.

6. What are the Supermoon dates in 2024?

There will be four Supermoons taking place this year. Please refer to the table below for the exact dates of the Full Moons. They will be visible, provided the skies are clear and there is an unobstructed view.

7. Will the Science Centre Observatory (SCOB) hold a viewing session for the Supermoons?

SCOB will not be holding a viewing session for the Supermoons. However, budding astronomy enthusiast can participate in SCOB’s stargazing programmes to learn more about the night sky.

The Stargazing and Digital Planetarium Live Show begins with a planetarium show at the Omni-Theatre followed by a stargazing session.

The Stargazer Experience teaches participants on how to use a telescope before heading out for a stargazing session in the field.

About Sturgeon Moon

1. What is the Sturgeon Moon and how did it get its name?

The Sturgeon Moon is a Supermoon that will be visible in August. At its closest, the moon will be approximately 360,000 kilometers from Earth. The name Sturgeon Moon was first coined by Native Americans after the large Sturgeon fish.

During this time of the year, it is believed that this fish is more commonly found in the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water in North America.

2. What’s so special about the upcoming Sturgeon Moon?

The upcoming Sturgeon Moon will be particularly special because it is also considered a seasonal Blue Moon. This term is used to describe the third Full Moon in an astronomical season when there are four Full Moons instead of the usual three.

The last seasonal Blue Moon was in August 2021, and the next one won’t occur until May 2027.

3. Does this mean the moon will be blue?

No, the moon will not be blue. However, there are rare instances where a Moon may appear blue, due to the water droplets in the air, certain types of clouds, or particles thrown into the atmosphere by natural catastrophes such as volcanic ash and smoke.

This was seen during the 1883 volcanic eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia, where ash particles in the air scattered red light and acted as a blue filter, resulting in the moon appearing blue.

Contributed by Science Centre Observatory.

Mid-Autumn Festival falls on 17 September this year. Remember to check out our list of Best Mooncakes and Best Bak Kwa in Singapore 2024.

Looking for what to do during the Mid-Autumn Festival? Read Mid Autumn Festival 2024 Events in Singapore.

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