October 2017's full Harvest Moon is shining real bright in Singapore on Oct. 5, 2017.

The Harvest Moon refers to the first full moon after the autumnal equinox, which took place on Sept. 22, 2017.

This means Harvest Moons typically appear in September.

The last October Harvest Moon was in 2009. Prior to that there was one in 2006. The next one will be in 2020.

Rarely in October

Therefore, Harvest Moons rarely occur in October. Between 1970 and 2050, they are set to occur only 18 times.

Usually the full moon occurs much closer to the autumnal equinox, which would make the Harvest Moon appear in late September.

Full moons occur when the moon is on the opposite side of Earth to the sun. If the three bodies line up exactly, an eclipse can occur that turns the moon dark red or brown.

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No different from a full moon

The Harvest Moon is no different from a normal full moon, save for its name.

It just marks the transition from summer to autumn and the harvest season.

This is so as farmers would traditionally use the light of the Harvest Moon to work into the evening as they gathered crops to prepare for winter.

On average, October Harvest Moons come every three years, although the time frame can be quite variable and as many as eight years can elapse between these events.

The next such gap will come between 2020 and 2028.

2017's Harvest Moon comes rather late, although it can occur as early as Sept. 8 (as in 1976) or as late as Oct. 7 (as in 1987).

Many people think that the Harvest Moon remains in the night sky longer than any of the other full moons, but that's not so.

What sets the Harvest Moon apart from the others is that it rises at about the same time the sun sets.

More importantly, at this time of year, instead of rising its normal average of 50 minutes later each evening, the moon seems to rise at roughly the same time each night.

Harvest Moon also called Hunter's Moon

The name of the moon may vary, depending on culture.

Tonight’s October full moon comes 13 days after the equinox, and as such has been named the Hunter’s Moon, which is the name for the October moon.