September’s Double Feature: Supermoon and Lunar Eclipse Visible From Texas

Fix your eyes to the sky for this month's astronomical wonder. A full moon (A.K.A. "Harvest Moon") AND a partial lunar eclipse can be spotted on one night in Texas!

On September 17th, at around 9:34 pm, Texans can observe September's Harvest Moon at its peak in the night sky.

But wait, there's more!

Around this time as well on the 17th, a partial eclipse can be spotted throughout portions of Texas.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Supermoon!

NASA describes supermoons as full moons that pass closer to Earth than normal.

Science lesson! The moon's orbit wobbles in space and depends on the location of Earth and the Sun in their orbits, so the distance of the moon from Earth varies from month to month.

Speaking of which! The moon's cycle consists of 29.5 days, so every few years we get two full moons in one month. This rare occurrence is known as a blue moon (hence the expression, "once in a blue moon")

What is a Harvest Moon?

Another name for the full moon occurring closest to the autumn equinox, this lunar nickname was first used when the light of the full moon would provide extended illumination for farmers to harvest their bountiful crops well into the night, according to the Farmers Almanac.

The impression of a full moon's benefit during harvest spans across many cultures, from a Chinese national holiday where families bake cakes with lotus seeds and duck eggs, to Native American traditions involving the autumn equinox.

So, keep those peepers to the sky as we approach this awesome lunar event!