September is synonymous with the cultural renaissance, of the back to school and to work, at last it seems that life is getting back to ‘normal’, in a post-holiday period full of sun and beach. However, what doesn’t seem to change is the occurrence of rare phenomena. After all, the Harvest Full Moon is coming.
However, it’s not coming alone, as it will be accompanied by another rare event: a partial lunar eclipse. These two astronomical phenomena will light up the skies as early as dawn on Wednesday, September 18. So there’s very little left to look at the firmament and appreciate its beauty.
What is the Harvest Supermoon?
In August, we had the Blue Supermoon. But even before the summer is over, the skies once again offer us a wonderful natural spectacle. As a rule, September’s Full Moon is called Harvest Moon, and its name is linked to the Native Americans who named it for coinciding with the harvest season.
But this time, the Harvest Moon will actually be a supermoon. According to information from National Geographic, it will occur at 1:43 a.m. on September 18, with its peak at Lisbon and Funchal at 3:43 a.m. and 2:43 a.m., respectively.
A partial lunar eclipse
On the same night, in good weather conditions and away from light pollution, there is yet another astronomical event that can be contemplated:the partial lunar eclipse.
According to National Geographic, this “phenomenon occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon align in such a way that a part of the umbra is created on the Moon’s disk”.
All indications are that the eclipse should occur between 1:12 and 2:15 am, therefore close to the peak of the Harvest Full Supermoon. This means that the lunar satellite will probably appear partially obscured.
Planos do que fazer em Lisboa em setembro, antes que o verão acabe