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Fall's Harvest Moon is About to Rise

Kerrie Cassani Updated: Sep 24, 2012, 7:08 AM EDT weather.com

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Harvest Moons

A harvest moon illuminates the sky in New Jersey. Flickr/joiseyshowaa

In the coming days, the harvest moon - the full moon closest to the autumn equinox - will rise.

Skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere can see the spectacular site on the nights of Sept. 29 and Sept.30, 2012.

According EarthSky.org, the moon rises about 50 minutes later each day, but when a full moon occurs close to the autumn equinox, the moon rises about 30 minutes later. These earlier moon rises make every harvest moon special. The harvest moon is not necessarily larger, brighter or more orange-colored than other moons. It may have a different appearance because of its location in the sky.

After the full harvest moon, you'll see the moon rising in the east just after sunset at northerly latitudes, making it seem like the full moon continues for several nights in a row.

(MORE: Upload Your Harvest Moon Photos | What is the Fall Equinox?)

According to The Farmer's Almanac, the Native Americans named the harvest moon. It marked when the corn was to be harvested. At the peak of harvest, before tractor lights, farmers worked by the the light of the moon to gather their crops. Another name for the harvest moon is the full corn moon.

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When the harvest moon arrives on the same night as the autumn equinox, it is called the super harvest moon. The last time a super harvest moon occurred was in 2010. It won't occur again until 2029.

The next full moon after the harvest moon is called the hunter's moon, which will be visible on Oct. 29, 2012.

Above are images captured from past harvest moons.