Coming right after the autumnal equinox, the Chicago night skies will glow with this year's final supermoon.
(CHICAGO) Halloween decorations are out, pumpkin spice lattes are here, and the air is beginning to turn cool and crisp.
With autumn arriving, Chicago will get the night sky treat of seeing the fourth and final supermoon of 2023. The Harvest Moon rises on September 29.
Why is the full moon in September called the full super harvest moon?
According to Chicago's Adler Planetarium, the full moon that is closest to the autumn equinox is called a harvest moon. It's also a supermoon, which happens when the moon is at its closest distance to Earth.
This means a supermoon looks brighter and fuller than the typical full moon.
When is the best time to see the full super harvest moon in Chicago?
Look for the full moon to appear in the night sky on Thursday, September 28, just after sunset.
Although the moon reaches its peak fullness and brightness at 4:57 AM on Friday, the best time to see it is on the horizon on Thursday and Friday evenings.
Evening is the best time to see the moon because when it has just risen and is close to the horizon, objects like houses and trees provide a sense of scale. This causes the moon to look the largest and most impressive early in the night before it rises higher in the sky.
For more space news, check out Adler Planetarium's blog.
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