West Texas Gets Prime Viewing Of Full Harvest Moon Saturday
Maybe it's because we're finally getting close to fall here, or maybe I'm just ready for something besides staring at a thermometer, wondering why Texas is trying to cook us alive. Either way, we've got a pretty cool reason to look up this weekend.
The Harvest Moon is coming Saturday night, and West Texas should get a great chance to check it out.
When to See the Harvest Moon in Abilene
The moon officially reaches its full phase on Saturday, September 26, at 11:49 a.m. here in Abilene. But unless you've suddenly developed Superman vision, that's not exactly prime moon-watching time.
The good stuff comes Saturday evening.
According to Time and Date's Abilene moon calendar, the moon rises in Abilene at approximately 7:24 p.m., just a few minutes before sunset at around 7:30 p.m. It'll be about 99.7% illuminated, so once it starts climbing above the eastern horizon, it ought to be pretty dang impressive.
My advice? Find yourself a spot with a clear view toward the east, grab a cold one, and enjoy one of the few shows left that doesn't require a subscription.
Why Do They Call It the Harvest Moon?
The Harvest Moon isn't just a cool fall nickname. It's traditionally the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, which happened on September 22 this year.
Historically, the timing of the moonrise around this part of the year meant farmers had additional evening light during harvest season. That's where the name comes from.
Will the Harvest Moon Actually Look Orange?
It definitely can, especially when it's close to the horizon. And that's probably my favorite part. Seeing that big orange-looking moon crawling over the West Texas horizon just screams fall. No pumpkin spice required.
So sometime around 7:24 Saturday night, put the phone down for a minute and look east. Mother Nature has something pretty awesome scheduled.
