Full Rabi Al-Akhar moon lights up Northern Borders sky

The full moon of Rabi Al-Akhar lit up the skies over the Northern Borders region and around the world on Sunday night, creating a striking astronomical scene. It marked the first full moon of the autumn season in the northern hemisphere and is known in some cultures as the "Harvest Moon."

Adnan Khalifa, a member of the Astronomy and Space Club, explained that the moon reaches its full phase when it is positioned opposite the sun relative to the Earth, making its disk appear almost completely illuminated as seen from the ground. He noted that the timing of this full moon gives skywatchers and photographers a chance to observe its rise in the eastern horizon at nearly the same time as sunset.

Khalifa added that the term "Harvest Moon" is a historical name given to the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere. The name does not indicate any change in the moon’s physical properties or color, but rather refers to the moonlight’s traditional association with the harvest season.

He also pointed out that the moon will remain visible throughout the night, moving across the sky from east to west before setting in the morning hours—a spectacle that can be enjoyed with the naked eye when skies are clear.

The full moon is one of the main phases in the lunar cycle, which changes according to the moon’s position relative to the Earth and sun. The cycle begins with the new moon, followed by the first quarter and waxing gibbous phases, leading up to the full moon, after which the illuminated portion gradually decreases.