Topline
When is the total moon in September 2026? The total Harvest Moon — the total moon closest to the autumnal equinox — will flip full on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 at 12:49 p.m. EDT. It’s historically related to additional night mild for farmers bringing in crops as a result of it does one thing distinctive — it rises near sundown for a couple of consecutive evenings. As with each full moon, nevertheless, the precise second of peak illumination isn’t the most effective time to look at it. Essentially the most compelling views rely upon moonrise relative to sundown. Right here’s every little thing it is advisable to find out about precisely when to see the Harvest Moon at its finest.
Full ‘Harvest Moon’ rises as a pair stroll on a path hill on the Seal Level Park in San Mateo, California, United States on September 6, 2025. September’s full moon is historically generally known as the Harvest Moon when it’s the full moon nearest the September equinox, which happens on Sept. 22 in 2026.(Photograph by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu through Getty Photographs)
Anadolu through Getty Photographs
Key Details
September’s full moon is historically generally known as the Harvest Moon when it’s the full moon nearest the September equinox, which happens on Sept. 22 in 2026.
In contrast to most full moons, which rise about 50 minutes later every evening, the Harvest Moon rises at practically the identical time for a number of evenings in a row as seen from the Northern Hemisphere.
This impact is attributable to the shallow angle of the moon’s orbit relative to the jap horizon in early fall, permitting prolonged moonlight shortly after sundown — a sensible benefit for pre-industrial agriculture.
In keeping with Timeanddate.com, the impact is reversed within the Southern Hemisphere, the place the hole between successive moonrises round September’s full moon is bigger than the standard 50 minutes, producing the other of the Harvest Moon impact.
Finest Time To See The Full ‘Harvest Moon’ Rise
As befits a Harvest Moon, there are two successive nights whenever you’ll be capable of see the total (or near-full) moon rise near sundown, inserting it squarely in blue hour, the best window for distinction and shade.
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 — the day of the total moon
- New York Metropolis: moonrise at 6:34 p.m. EDT, sundown at 6:46 p.m. EDT — simply 12 minutes after moonrise.
- Los Angeles: moonrise at 6:39 p.m. EDT, sundown at 6:43 p.m. EDT — simply 6 minutes after moonrise.
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026 — the evening after the total moon
- New York Metropolis: sundown at 6:44 p.m. EDT, moonrise at 7:00 p.m. EDT — simply 16 minutes after sundown.
- Los Angeles: sundown at 6:42 p.m. PDT, moonrise at 7:10 p.m. PDT — simply 28 minutes after sundown.
For precise timings for the place you reside, verify a moon calculator.
Background
The Harvest Moon would be the tenth of 13 full moons in 2026, a 12 months with an additional full moon. That may occur as a result of the lunar 12 months is about 10 or 11 days shorter than the photo voltaic 12 months. A “Blue Moon” — the second of two full moons in a single calendar month — occurred on Could 31.
The Harvest Moon follows August’s Sturgeon Moon, which was accompanied by a deep partial lunar eclipse. The following full moon after the Harvest Moon would be the Hunter’s Moon on Saturday, Oct. 24, the primary of a trio of supermoons.
A Run Of Supermoons Follows
After September’s Harvest Moon, the ultimate three full moons of 2026 will all be supermoons, occurring when the total moon coincides with the moon’s closest strategy to Earth, generally known as perigee. A supermoon is usually outlined as a full moon that happens inside about 10% of the moon’s minimal orbital distance, making it seem barely bigger and brighter than a median full moon. In 2026, these supermoons arrive in fast succession:
- Hunter’s Supermoon on Oct. 24
- Beaver Supermoon on Nov. 24
- Chilly Supermoon on Dec. 24
Whereas the dimensions distinction is delicate — just a few p.c — supermoons improve the moon phantasm at moonrise and have a tendency to provide particularly hanging horizon views, closing out the 12 months with a few of its most visually spectacular full moons. Furthermore, supermoons are likely to deliver extra folks exterior to look at the rising of the total moon, one of the crucial stunning views nature offers.
The instances and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For essentially the most correct location-specific info, seek the advice of on-line planetariums like Stellarium.
