Shea Simmons
Fall isn’t here quite yet, but its first unofficial full moon is. This year, September’s full moon is coming early, but thanks to its proximity to the fall equinox, it’s considered the season’s first.
September’s full Harvest Moon will first appear after sunset on Sept. 9 and will peak at 5:58 a.m. ET on Sept. 10.
While summer’s super moons are over, the Harvest Moon does have its own special something. According to The Farmer’s Almanac, the moon rises at almost the same time for several nights in a row. This means you’ve got extra time to see this full moon. That’s also where its name comes from.
Like all full moons, the Harvest Moon is named after Native American traditions. Because the moon is full for more days, it gives more time to reap a harvest before the first frost arrives.
Sometimes, however, September’s full moon is called the Corn Moon instead. That’s all of its closeness to the fall equinox. If October’s full moon falls closer to the official start of fall, it becomes the Harvest Moon, and September is the Corn Moon.
If you missed the last super moon of the summer, you can still see September’s full moon, the Harvest Moon, which has its own unique features.
