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Ammon News - A Harvest Moon is expected to light up Jordan’s night sky and the skies of the Arab countries on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, September 17/18, according to astronomer and Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, Imad Mujahid.

Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra) on Thursday, Mujahid indicated that the moon will rise from the northeastern horizon in Amman at sunset, precisely at 6:25 PM, and will set in the western horizon at 6:28 AM, shining for about 12 hours.

He explained that the Harvest Moon occurs when the moon is full or nearly full around the time of the autumnal equinox, which falls on September 22 each year. During this time, the moon is higher in the sky and shines more brightly than full moons in other months, and it rises earlier compared to other times of the year.

Typically, the moon rises about 50 minutes later each night; however, during the Harvest Moon, it rises only 30 to 35 minutes later than the previous night in equatorial regions, and it also rises a few minutes before sunset.

Farmers in Europe have historically utilized this astronomical phenomenon and the bright moonlight for nighttime work, including tilling the land and sowing seeds in preparation for the current season and waiting for rainfall. This is why astronomers named this moon the Harvest Moon.

Additionally, astronomers refer to the Harvest Moon as the "Corn Moon" because European farmers harvest corn during this period when it is ripe and ready for picking.

Mujahid encouraged specialists and photography enthusiasts to capture photos of the moon as it rises on Friday evening, noting that it will appear unusually beautiful and large, particularly in the stunning mountainous region of Wadi Rum.

He suggested sending these photos to global astronomical websites to be published online for scientific and tourism promotion of Jordan.