September Full Moon 2026 (Harvest Moon): Date, Time & Meaning
The Full Moon in September 2026 — known as the Harvest Moon in the Northern Hemisphere — occurs on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 16:49 GMT/UTC (12:49 PM EDT). The Moon will be located in the constellation Pisces and appear close to Saturn and Neptune. The lunar disk will look bright and round for several nights, especially on September 25, 26, and 27.
Want to know exactly when the Harvest Moon rises in your city and what other celestial objects are nearby? Use the free astronomy app Sky Tonight. Read on to learn when to see the September Full Moon, why it’s called the Harvest Moon, what constellation it appears in, and what makes its moonrises special.
Contents
- September Full Moon 2026 at a glance
- Moon phases in September 2026: dates and times
- What constellation is the September Full Moon in?
- What planets are near the September Full Moon?
- September Full Moon meaning: why is it called the Harvest Moon?
- Mid-Autumn Festival 2026
- International Observe the Moon Night 2026
- September Full Moon 2026: Frequently asked questions
- September Full Moon 2026: key takeaways
September Full Moon 2026 at a glance
- Date: September 26, 2026
- Peak time: 16:49 GMT/UTC (12:49 PM EDT)
- Looks full: September 25–27
- Name & meaning: Harvest Moon — the Full Moon closest to the September equinox
- Where in the sky: constellation Pisces
- Path across the sky: the Moon will rise near the eastern horizon around sunset and set near the western horizon around sunrise
- Special feature: the Moon will rise at a similar time for several evenings in a row in the Northern Hemisphere
- Nearby planets: Saturn will be visible to the naked eye, while Neptune will require a telescope
Moon phases in September 2026: dates and times
You can see how the Moon will look in the sky on any chosen date in the Sky Tonight app. Open the calendar, switch to the Moon tab, and choose a date to see the Moon’s phase, apparent size, and orientation for your location.
Here are the exact dates and times for the key lunar phases in September 2026:
- Last Quarter: September 4, 07:51 GMT/UTC (3:51 AM EDT)
- New Moon: September 11, 03:27 GMT/UTC (September 10, 11:27 PM EDT)
- First Quarter: September 18, 20:44 GMT/UTC (4:44 PM EDT)
- Full Moon: September 26, 16:49 GMT/UTC (12:49 PM EDT)
Explore every lunar phase, along with daily moonrise and moonset times, in our interactive Moon Calendar.
When is the New Moon in September 2026?
The New Moon occurs on September 11, 2026, at 03:27 GMT/UTC (September 10, 11:27 PM EDT). Around the New Moon, the lunar disk is invisible to the naked eye because the Moon is positioned between Earth and the Sun.
Take advantage of these conditions to look for faint deep-sky objects — galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. To find the most promising targets from your location, open the Visible Tonight window (telescope icon) in the Sky Tonight app.
When is the Full Moon in September 2026?
The September Full Moon occurs on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 16:49 GMT/UTC (12:49 PM EDT). You don’t need to catch this exact moment: to the naked eye, the lunar disk will appear fully illuminated from about September 25 through September 27.
Depending on your time zone, the exact Full Moon moment may fall on September 27. For instance, in Beijing, it occurs at 00:49 on September 27; in Tokyo, at 01:49; and in Sydney, at 02:49.
Best time to see the September Full Moon 2026
The best time to see the Harvest Moon is around local moonrise on September 26. The Moon will emerge in the east around sunset and remain visible throughout the night.
A rising Full Moon often looks especially impressive. Its light can appear yellow or orange after passing through the thick layer of atmosphere near the horizon, while the Moon illusion may make the lunar disk seem much larger than it really is.
If clouds spoil the view on September 26, try the evening before or after. The Moon will look almost equally full on September 25 and 27. In much of the Northern Hemisphere, it will also rise close to sunset on several consecutive evenings — the characteristic viewing advantage of a Harvest Moon.
This table shows the exact Full Moon time and the closest moonrise and moonset in different cities:
| City | Time zone | Exact Full Moon | Closest moonrise | Closest moonset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, US | EDT | September 26, 12:49 PM | September 26, 6:34 PM | September 26, 6:39 AM |
| Los Angeles, US | PDT | September 26, 9:49 AM | September 26, 6:39 PM | September 26, 6:42 AM |
| London, UK | BST | September 26, 17:49 | September 26, 18:27 | September 26, 06:31 |
| Paris, France | CEST | September 26, 18:49 | September 26, 19:19 | September 26, 07:20 |
| Beijing, China | CST | September 27, 00:49 | September 26, 17:41 | September 27, 06:29 |
| Tokyo, Japan | JST | September 27, 01:49 | September 26, 17:07 | September 27, 05:49 |
| Sydney, Australia | AEST | September 27, 02:49 | September 26, 17:29 | September 27, 05:33 |
All times are local. Moonrise and moonset times may vary slightly depending on the observer’s exact location, elevation, and local horizon.
What constellation is the September Full Moon in?
On September 26, the Moon will shine among the stars of Pisces. It will lie near the Circlet, an easy-to-recognize asterism that forms the head of one of the two fish. The Circlet consists of several relatively faint stars, so the glare from the Full Moon may hide some of them.
Astrologers describe this event as a Full Moon in Aries. Astrology uses fixed zodiac signs, while astronomy tracks the Moon’s actual position among the constellations. Earth’s axial precession has also shifted the constellations relative to the traditional astrological signs over time.
Our infographic 12 Zodiac Signs vs. 13 Constellations of Ecliptic explains why the two systems no longer match.
What planets are near the September Full Moon?
The brightest point of light near the September Full Moon will be Saturn. The planet will shine at about magnitude 0.4 and look like a steady yellowish “star.” It will be easily visible to the naked eye.
Another planet, Neptune, will also be nearby. The distant planet reaches opposition around September 25–26, so it will be visible throughout the night and at its brightest for the year. However, at magnitude 7.8, Neptune is too faint to see with the naked eye. Under dark skies, binoculars may be enough to spot it, but the nearby Full Moon will brighten the sky, so a telescope is recommended.
Use Sky Tonight to identify Saturn, Neptune, and any other objects near the Moon.
September Full Moon meaning: why is it called the Harvest Moon?
The Harvest Moon is not simply a name for September’s Full Moon. It is the title given to whichever Full Moon falls closest to the September equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.
In 2026, the September equinox occurs on September 23 at 00:06 GMT/UTC (September 22, 8:06 PM EDT). The Full Moon follows on September 26, making it closer to the equinox than either the August or October Full Moon.
The name refers to the unusual pattern of moonrises around the September equinox. Normally, the Moon rises about 50 minutes later each day on average. Around the equinox, however, the Moon’s path meets the eastern horizon at a shallow angle after sunset in the Northern Hemisphere. As the Moon moves along this path from one night to the next, it shifts mainly sideways along the horizon rather than farther below it. As a result, it rises only a little later each evening, providing several consecutive nights of bright moonlight soon after sunset.
Before artificial lighting, these moonlit evenings gave farmers more time to bring in crops — hence the name Harvest Moon.
This effect is seasonal and tied to latitude. In the Southern Hemisphere, the corresponding Harvest Moon occurs near the March equinox; in 2026, it fell on April 2.
Other names for the September Full Moon
The September Full Moon has many traditional names across cultures. Most of them reflect harvests, ripening plants, and other seasonal changes in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Corn Harvest Moon — a Dakota name for gathering ripe corn
- Barley Moon — an Old English name marking the harvesting and threshing of barley
- Autumn Moon — a Cree name reflecting the change of season
- Falling Leaves Moon — an Ojibwe name inspired by the first falling autumn leaves
- Nut Moon — a Cherokee name associated with gathering hickory nuts, walnuts, and chestnuts
- Snow Goose Moon — a Cree name referring to the autumn migration of snow geese
- Wine Moon — a European name linked with the grape harvest and wine-making season
- Singing Moon — a Celtic name associated with harvest celebrations and songs
September marks the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere, where names such as Worm Moon, Crow Moon, Sugar Moon, Chaste Moon, and Sap Moon are used.
Harvest Moon spiritual meaning
Modern spiritual traditions connect the Harvest Moon with gratitude, abundance, balance, and the completion of long-term work. Its association with gathering crops has made it a symbol of recognizing results, appreciating progress, and deciding what to carry into the next season. These ideas are cultural and symbolic rather than astronomical.
Mid-Autumn Festival 2026
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 25, 2026. Also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, it is one of the most important traditional celebrations in Chinese culture.
The festival takes place shortly before the exact astronomical Full Moon: the Moon reaches full phase on September 26 at 16:49 GMT/UTC, or September 27 at 00:49 in Beijing. However, the difference will not be noticeable by eye — on the festival evening, the lunar disk will already appear round and almost completely illuminated.
People traditionally celebrate by gathering with their families, eating mooncakes, lighting lanterns, and admiring the Moon. Other Asian cultures, including those of Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, have their own autumn Moon and harvest traditions.
International Observe the Moon Night 2026
This year’s International Observe the Moon Night takes place on September 19, one day after the First Quarter phase.
Unlike a Full Moon, a quarter Moon is excellent for examining the lunar surface. Sunlight strikes the terrain at an angle along the terminator (the line between lunar day and night), producing long shadows that reveal the shapes of craters, mountain ranges, and valleys. Binoculars will show many of these features, while a telescope will reveal finer detail.
NASA’s annual event includes public observing sessions, talks, and educational activities around the world. You can also participate independently by observing the Moon from home. Before you begin, test yourself with our Moon colors quiz or explore our infographic with fascinating Moon facts.
September Full Moon 2026: Frequently asked questions
What time is the Harvest Moon in 2026?
The Moon reaches full phase on September 26 at 16:49 GMT/UTC (12:49 PM EDT). The local date changes to September 27 in time zones east of UTC+7. Visually, the Moon will appear full from approximately September 25 to September 27.
What makes this Full Moon the Harvest Moon?
It is the Full Moon closest to the September equinox. Its seasonal path causes a series of early-evening moonrises across much of the Northern Hemisphere, historically providing farmers with extra light after sunset.
Does the Harvest Moon always occur in September?
Usually, but not always. If an October Full Moon falls closer to the September equinox, it receives the Harvest Moon title instead. The next October Harvest Moon will occur in 2028.
Is the Harvest Moon a Supermoon?
The September 2026 Harvest Moon is neither a Supermoon nor a Micromoon. Its apparent diameter will be close to average, so it will not look unusually large or small because of its distance from Earth.
The next Supermoon will be the Beaver Moon on November 24, 2026. Our Supermoons and Micromoons infographic shows how their apparent sizes compare.
When is the next Full Moon?
The Hunter’s Moon follows on October 26, 2026, at 04:12 GMT/UTC (12:12 AM EDT).
When is the next Harvest Moon after 2026?
The next Harvest Moon in the Northern Hemisphere will reach full phase on September 15, 2027, at 23:04 GMT/UTC (7:04 PM EDT). In most of Europe and farther east, the local date will already be September 16.
September Full Moon 2026: key takeaways
The Harvest Moon reaches full phase on September 26 at 16:49 GMT/UTC (12:49 PM EDT), but the most attractive observing opportunity comes around local moonrise. Watch the eastern horizon after sunset on September 26, or try the neighboring evenings if the weather is unfavorable.
This Full Moon earns the Harvest Moon name because it is the closest Full Moon to the September equinox. In much of the Northern Hemisphere, it will rise relatively close to sunset for several evenings in a row. Saturn will shine near the Moon and will be easy to see without optical equipment, while Neptune will require a telescope.
To get the exact moonrise time and Moon phase for your location, launch Sky Tonight, tap the Calendar icon and open the Moon tab.
We wish you clear skies and successful observations!
