Rare Friday The 13th Full Moon To Fill California Skies

CALIFORNIA — Friday the 13th is a little extra spooky this year, as a rare Harvest Moon will appear in the night sky across America on Friday, Sept. 13. It’s the first time a full moon has appeared on the date since Oct. 13, 2000.

You’re not going to want to miss the spectacle, as it won’t happen again until Aug. 13, 2049, according to the good folks at the Farmers’ Almanac. That’s a 30-year wait!

The Harvest Moon name refers to the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox — on Friday, Sept. 13, the moon will reach the farthest point of its orbit around the Earth, and thus be at its most visible.

In California, the full moon on Friday the 13th happened at 7 a.m. This is slightly different from when NASA says the best time to watch the full moon across the U.S is — at 12:33 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14.

The Harvest Moon will appear full from Thursday night through Sunday morning, according to NASA.

The actual autumnal equinox will take place on Sept. 23 at 3:50 a.m., which marks the end of summer and beginning of fall.

— Patch editors Gus Saltonstall and Bea Karnes contributed to this story

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