October full moon

As the nights grow long and the temperatures cool in the Northern Hemisphere, a new moon famed for its brightness and orange hue will rise in the sky.

The Harvest Moon, which has inspired no shortage of cultural touchstones – from a Nintendo game to Neil Young’s Billboard hit – occurs annually around the start of fall at a time when Earth's only natural satellite is especially close to our planet.

Because it rises near sunset and reaches peak fullness earlier, the Harvest Moon not only provides more working hours to farmers, but can provide quite a sight to skygazers across the hemisphere.

Here's what to know about this year's super Harvest Moon and how you can see the celestial body as it's also eclipsed by Earth's shadow.

Moongazing:Partial lunar eclipse to combine with supermoon for spectacular sight across U.S.

What is a Harvest Moon?

Unlike other moon names, the Harvest Moon is not associated with a specific month but, rather, occurs each year around the time of the autumnal equinox, according to the

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