The Harvest Moon is making an appearance on Thursday, Oct. 5, and it's a sight you'll want to see.
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Normally, the Harvest Moon shows up in September. This year, the full moon will rise in October, which only happens once every three years.
Naming the full moons is a tradition that dates back to prehistoric Native American civilizations, who used the movement of celestial bodies to track time. April's full moon is known as the Pink Moon due to its arrival near the time when pink phlox blooms. June's full moon is the Strawberry Moon, since it rises near the time of year when strawberries ripen.
The Harvest Moon is the full moon that rises nearest the Autumnal equinox. This year, that fell on Sept. 22, but the September full moon was on the 6th, which makes the October full moon the closest to the Fall equinox. Therefore, it gains the special title of this year's Harvest Moon.
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The Harvest Moon is special because it rises early, just after sunset. It also appears larger and brighter than normal, and tends to have a orange or yellow glow. The moon will appear full for several days after it rises, so there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy this year's Harvest Moon.
