The Time of the Harvest Moon
A harvest moon occurs at a specific time of the year. The moon
officially turns full when it reaches the spot opposite to the sun. The
harvest moon happens on 13:59 Greenwich time on the Saturday nearest to
the fall equinox, which is September 23rd. Once in every three years we
get the same full moon in October, but the one in September is called
the harvest moon because farmers can continue their harvest late into
the night by the light of the full moon. The same moon appears three
days in succession, but the one that appears on Saturday is the one that
receives this name.