This year, September’s Full Harvest Moon will peak in illumination at 12:49 pm. It will be below the horizon at this time, so be sure to watch for it after sunset… it will be hard to miss! The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac have different origins, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred.

The Harvest Moon is the full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox. Unlike other full Moons, it rises about the same time for several nights, providing extended evening light. Historically, this extra illumination helped farmers complete their harvests before fall frosts. The Harvest Moon typically occurs in September, and is also known as the Full Corn Moon. It occasionally lands in October, then called the Full Hunter’s Moon.