Harvest Moon 2024: Supermoon in September
The Full Moon occurring this September will be the Harvest Moon. However, the October Full Moon can also be referred to as the Harvest Moon sometimes. Did Native Americans run out of names for the Full Moons by the end of the year? Read on to figure it out.
Contents
- When is the Full Moon in September 2024?
- What is a Harvest Moon?
- Why is the Harvest Full Moon 2024 special?
- “Corn Moon” and other September Full Moon names
- When is the next Full Moon?
- September Full Moon 2024: Conclusion
When is the Full Moon in September 2024?
This month, the Full Moon will occur on September 18 at 02:34 GMT (September 17, 9:34 p.m. EST). At this time, our natural satellite will lie in the constellation Pisces. If the Moon is below the horizon at this time in your region, you’ll still have a chance to see it. To the naked eye, the Moon will appear completely round and bright the day before and after the event.
Moon phases in September 2024
- New Moon: September 3, 01:55 GMT (September 2, 8:55 p.m. EST)
- First Quarter: September 11, 06:06 GMT (1:06 a.m. EST)
- Full Moon: September 18, 02:34 GMT (September 17, 9:34 p.m. EST)
- Last Quarter: September 24, 18:50 GMT (1:50 p.m. EST)
Moon calendar on starwalk.space
To learn what the Moon looks like tonight, visit the Moon Phases section on our website. There, you can check out the monthly lunar calendar and find out the Moon phase for any specific day, as well as the moonrise and moonset times.
Moon calendar in Sky Tonight
With the Sky Tonight astronomy app, you can find out the Moon's phase, brightness, appearance, and location for each day. Within this app, an astronomy calendar features a separate “Moon” tab: just open it, and you’ll get all the important and up-to-date information about our natural satellite.
What is a Harvest Moon?
The Harvest Moon is the Full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which occurs in September in the Northern Hemisphere and in March in the Southern Hemisphere. This year, the Full Moon on September 18 is the Harvest Moon.
Why is the Harvest Full Moon 2024 special?
Full Harvest Moon and autumn equinox: Harvest Moon name meaning
The Harvest Moon is not associated with a particular month, unlike the other Full Moon names. Instead, it is connected to the autumnal equinox: the Full Moon that is nearest to it takes on the name. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Harvest Moon usually occurs in September, but around every three-five years, it is in October. In the Southern Hemisphere, the Harvest Moon takes place either in March or April.
This year, the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is on September 22 at 12:44 GMT – that’s why the Full Moon occurring on September 18 is the Harvest Moon. In the Southern Hemisphere, the autumnal equinox is on March 20, 2024, at 03:07 GMT. Therefore, the Full Moon on March 25, 2024, will be the Harvest Moon for that part of the world.
Harvest Moon color: orange Moon
As the Moon hangs low on the horizon, it takes on a golden, orange, or red hue. The reason is that the blue wavelengths get scattered by the atmosphere, leaving more of the red wavelengths, so the Moon gets a warm glow. Pass our quiz and learn more about the possible colors of the Moon!
The September Full Moon and the Mid-Autumn Festival
The September Full Moon is celebrated by many nations. For the Chinese people, the September Full Moon marks the mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival or Lantern Festival. It is the second most important festival after the Lunar New Year. On this day, people traditionally get together with their family and friends, eat mooncakes, light up paper lanterns, and gaze at the Moon. Similar September Full Moon traditions are found in many cultures around the world, including Japan, Korea, Vietnam, India, and Sri Lanka.
September Supermoon
The September Full Moon 2024 is listed in the table of Supermoons by former NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak. It is also included in the list of Supermoons by Richard Nolle, the astrologer who coined the term "Supermoon". This means that this Full Moon will occur near the perigee and will appear slightly larger and brighter in the sky than regular Full Moons. Check our special article to learn why there are two tables of Supermoons, and how they differ.
Partial lunar eclipse in September 2024
On September 18, between 02:12 GMT and 03:15 GMT, the Moon will pass through the Earth’s umbral shadow, creating a partial lunar eclipse. The lunar disc will be 3.5% covered by this shadow, so it may look as if someone “took a bite” out of our Moon. The partial lunar eclipse will be visible from Europe, much of Asia, Africa, North America, South America, the Arctic, and Antarctica.
“Corn Moon” and other September Full Moon names
As we mentioned before, the Harvest Moon is the name used to denote both September and October Full Moons, depending on the date of the autumnal equinox. When the Harvest Moon occurs in October, the September Full Moon is called the Corn Moon. The other traditional name used by the Native American tribes is the Rutting Moon: during this period, the mating season begins for deer.
The other alternative names for the September Full Moon include:
- Chinese: Chrysanthemum Moon
- Celtic: Singing Moon
- Wiccan: Barley Moon
- Cherokee: Nut Moon
- Southern Hemisphere: Worm Moon, Lenten Moon, Crow Moon, Sugar Moon, Chaste Moon, Sap Moon
Curious about the names of other Full Moons? Check out our colorful infographic!
When is the next Full Moon?
When is the next Full Moon in 2024?
The October Full Moon, or the Hunter’s Moon, will be on October 17, 2024. Use our Full Moon calendar so as not to miss the best time to observe the Moon.
When is the next Harvest Moon?
In 2024, the Harvest Moon will occur on March 25 at 07:00 GMT (in the Southern Hemisphere) and on September 18 at 02:34 GMT (in the Northern Hemisphere). After that, the next Harvest Moon will occur on March 14, 2025 (in the Southern Hemisphere) and on October 7, 2025 (in the Northern Hemisphere).
September Full Moon 2024: Conclusion
The September Full Moon in 2024 is called the Harvest Moon. It occurs around the autumn equinox and is famous for rising right after sunset for several days in a row. The Full Moon will be on September 18 at 02:34 GMT (September 17, 9:34 p.m. EST), but don’t worry if you miss the exact day and time: the Moon will appear full for several days around the date. The September Full Moon also counts as a Supermoon, which means it will look a little brighter and bigger in the sky.
We wish you clear skies and happy observations!
