Super Harvest Full Moon to shine down on DC area Thursday and Friday - WTOP News

Autumn is fully underway, and we'll be experiencing cloudy skies in the Washington D.C. region for the next several days.

It's important for you to take a moment and step outside during the evenings of September 28th and 29th. Take a look towards the east horizon during sunset and you will see the almost full moon rising. And before dawn, turn your gaze to the west horizon, where you might be lucky enough to witness the setting of the Super Harvest Full Moon. This is the fourth supermoon in a row and the brightness of the moon will be slightly more intense. So go ahead and treat yourself to nature's beauty!

The precise instance of the Super Harvest Full Moon will happen on Friday at 5:57 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. We could witness the Harvest Moon almost at the very moment it happens since it will set at 7:12 a.m. EDT.

You might want to check out the moonrise on Friday evening around 7:19 p.m. EDT, as the moon will be shining brightly and classified as the Harvest Moon since it's the full moon's scheduled date.

During Thursday and Friday evenings, there's a chance that we'll have a clear view of the moon as it ascends and descends in a magnificent hue ranging from orange to yellow. Additionally, we may encounter the "moon illusion," where the moon appears bigger to us when it's close to the horizon.

Whether you're in the city or the rural areas, the night sky will be illuminated by the moon and only the most visible stars will shine through. With the Super Harvest Full Moon lighted up, the countryside will transform into a magical world of shadows and light due to the absence of bright lights. Personally, I find the full moon's light to be enchanting, as it brings out an otherworldly dimension in everything; be it the sea, sky or land.

The latest study reveals that the phases of the moon can still have an impact on the way people sleep, despite living in well-lit city areas where the brightness of the full moon is overshadowed. This may seem strange and mysterious, like something out of the TV show "The X-Files."

For those who enjoy observing the sky, there's an additional treat for two consecutive nights. During this time, the moon will be positioned below Jupiter, shining brightly toward the lower left. Meanwhile, Saturn, another planet, will appear above the moon to the upper right.

By the way, the moon's movements across our sky during the new moon on October 14 will be primarily influenced by gravity. As a result, there will be a partial solar eclipse in the D.C. area and an annular solar eclipse in some areas. Remember to adhere to solar safety guidelines and use appropriate eye protection for the duration of the solar eclipse event.

If you're in the D.C. region, you'll witness about 30% of the sun being eclipsed, but this may vary based on your precise location. You can check the exact details of the eclipse by entering your location on this map.

Hopefully, the deities of the sky are merciful enough to grant us favorable weather conditions, allowing us to fully appreciate the beautiful scenery.

Keep updated on the current events in astronomy and space exploration by following my everyday blog and @SkyGuyinVA. Get in touch with me by sending an email to [email protected].

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