Tonight's full moon will again be a supermoon that will shine for three full days -- and give way to a partial eclipse
The harvest moon is different from all other full moons in that it isn't tied to a particular month, but rather to the timing of the autumnal equinox, which can happen either in September or October. This year it will be on Sept. 22.
Here are some quick facts about what makes this September full moon so special and when to watch.
When is the full moon in September?
The harvest moon was first visible Monday night, but peak illumination is expected at 10:34 p.m. Eastern tonight.
When is the September 2024 partial lunar eclipse?
The partial lunar eclipse on Wednesday will blot out part of the moon as the Earth orbits between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow.
The moon will start entering the Earth's partial shadow at 8:41 p.m. Eastern Wednesday, but the dimming will be difficult to notice until the top edge of the moon starts entering the full shadow at 10:13 p.m., according to NASA.
The peak of the eclipse will be at 10:44 p.m. with only the top 8 percent of the moon in full shadow. It will exit the full shadow at 11:16 p.m.
The partial lunar eclipse will be visible from most of North America during a small window of time.
Why is it called the harvest moon?
The harvest moon came to be called that because of the abundance of bright moonlight in the early evening hours when farmers harvested their crops. They worked well into the night as autumn began, before electricity.
Unlike other full moons, the harvest moon rises at nearly the same time for the few nights surrounding it, just 25 to 30 minutes later each day, versus the average 50 minutes later each day throughout the year. It will also rise very near sunset for those few nights, appearing like a full moon for three days in a row.
What is a supermoon?
A supermoon happens when a full moon's orbit is closest to the Earth at the same time the moon is full. According to NASA, at approximately 226,000 miles from Earth, the full moon appears brighter and larger than a regular full moon, hence the term, supermoon.
When is the October full moon?
The October full moon, the hunter's moon will occur on Thursday, Oct. 17.