What is a Harvest Moon?
Quick Answer: The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. It rises soon after sunset for several nights in a row, providing extra light for farmers harvesting their crops in the fall.
The Harvest Moon stands out because its rising time is only about 30 minutes later each night, rather than the usual 50 minutes. This means the moonlight lasts longer during the early evening, which was especially helpful before electric lights existed.
This special timing happens around late September or early October in the Northern Hemisphere. The name comes from traditional farming, when the bright moonlight allowed farmers to work late and gather their harvest.