The names of full moons can be traced back to the Native Americas. Tribes in ancient North America gave names to each recurring full moon to track the seasons, with each name of the full moon applied to the entire month when they occurred.
For example, the rare corn moon that only happens once every three years mostly happens in September, which is also just one of the many names that are given to the full moon to mark specific seasons. Another notable full moon is the Harvest Moon, which happens closest to the fall equinox and is set to happen on October 1 this year.
Although there are some variations in these names, generally speaking, the same names were consistent among regional tribes. Soon after, European settlers in North America have adopted this custom and created some of their own names.
The Corn Moon
According to the Farmer's Almanac, the full moon with a special given name, which only happens every three years, happened this year on September 2.
The name is attributed to Native Americans as it marks the time when corn is ripe and ready to be harvested. Although it usually happens in September, there were also some years when Corn Moon happens in October.
This year, the corn moon was situated in the constellation Aquarius which was seen in New York City and rose on the evening of September 2 at 8:06 p.m. local time. It sets the next morning at 7:32 a.m. local time. While many observers in North America might have missed seeing the moon becoming full, the difference was not noticeable later that evening.
A full moon happens when the moon is at 180 degrees away from the sun in the sky, which means that the moon is situated on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun. Even if the moon is behind the Earth at that time, it is not in the Earth's shadow each time it orbits the planet because it is tilted in some five degrees from the plane of the Earth's orbit.
On the occasion that it passes through the Earth's shadow, it creates a lunar eclipse, which is due to happen on November 29-30.
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The Harvest Moon
Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the fall equinox in which its name is an ode to farming. The bright light from the moon allows farmers to work until the night.
Usually, the Harvest Moon rises at an average of 50 minutes each night and seems to rise at almost the same time every night for about 25 to 30 minutes across the United States, and only for 10 to 20 minutes for most parts of Canada and Europe.
The harvest moon happens because the moon is at a particular angle to the Earth's horizon, which causes it to appear large and red. A fitting sight to see to mark the start of the "spooky seasons." This year, it is set to happen on October 1, which is rare as it usually happens in September. But it also occurred in 2017 when Harvest Moon occurred on October 5.
The Harvest Moon signals ancient tribes that their crops, such as corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice, which are chief Indian staples, are now ready to harvest. It is one of the most culturally referred to and celebrated full moon names of all time.
But aside from the Harvest Moon in October, the hunter's Moon and the Blue Moon will also coincide with each other this spooky season.
READ MORE: Equinox: The Light and Darkness Phenomenon That Happens Twice a Year
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