For the Europeans and pioneers in America, it is the beginning of the harvest season; for the Tlingits in Alaska, it was called the Young Animals Moon or Child Moon; and if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the beginning of spring.
The Harvest Moon is the last full moon of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and arrives Sept. 20-22, the fall equinox being on Sept. 22.
Residents of Southcentral Alaska were able to get a good preview of it on the night of Sept. 19, but clouds may obscure the moon Monday night, and the forecast calls for just a peek-a-boo view of it Tuesday.
In some parts of the state, the weather won’t cooperate to make the harvest moon visible. A low pressure moving into the Gulf of Alaska is hitting cold air from the north with strong winds in Seward and Whittier, and sustained winds up to 45 mph and gusts to 55 mph. Snow flurries may be found at some elevations in Southcentral and in Fairbanks. Juneau will be washed out of the spectacle with rain, but Nome residents will have a good chance of seeing the last moon of summer.
The moon will appear full for about three days, Sunday evening through Wednesday morning, according to NASA.
