How to see September’s Harvest Moon and partial lunar eclipse (2024)

As the month of September approaches, we have a new full moon – and a partial lunar eclipse – to look forward to.

Astrologically speaking, the full moon in September is in Pieces, and marks the start of an astrological cycle that will last until 20 February 2027.

According to Astrology.com, this period will be a time to consider personal habits and triggers and pay attention to your emotional wellbeing. “There will be times where you feel torn between your dreams and the work required to reach them, while quests for perfection could lead to heartache.”

When the moon is completely illuminated and facing the sun in its orbit around the Earth, it gives you a full moon.

Even though we refer to it as a full moon, that’s technically untrue. The moon is only full when Earth, the sun, and the moon are perfectly aligned — causing a lunar eclipse.

You’ll be able to see the next full moon on Wednesday, September 18.

Known as a Harvest Moon (or a Full Corn Moon), it will also undergo a partial lunar eclipse – which is when the Earth, Sun and Moon are not perfectly aligned, causing only part of the Moon to pass through the Earth’s shadow.

A full moon occurs when the Earth is positioned directly between the sun and the moon. The side of the moon facing Earth is fully illuminated by sunlight.

This alignment causes the moon to appear as a complete, round disk in the sky, with its entire surface visible from Earth.

Full moons happen roughly once every 29.5 days as the moon orbits around the Earth. They're often associated with various cultural beliefs, myths, and traditions. They can also affect phenomena such as tides and animal behaviour.

There are typically 12 to 13 full moons in a year, averaging about one per month. This variation is due to the slightly shorter lunar cycle than the 12-month calendar cycle we use.

The "Cold Moon” is a full moon that occurs in December, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, where December tends to be one of the coldest months of the year.

The name "Cold Moon" comes from the seasonal association with winter and the dropping temperatures during this time. Different cultures have their own names for the full moons based on local climate, seasonal changes, and cultural traditions.

There are four more full moons to expect this year.

Full moon nicknames mostly come from Native American culture. Many tribes assigned either 12 or 13 full moons to the year. These names were later adopted by colonial Americans, before entering popular culture.

January’s full moon is called the Wolf Moon. It’s named after the howling of wolves, hungry after the lack of food available in midwinter. January’s full moon has other nicknames, including Old Moon and Ice Moon.

The full moon in February is called the Snow Moon, after the snowy weather in North America. February’s full moon is also known as the Storm Moon and Hunger Moon.

March’s full moon is known as the Worm Moon. Native Americans named this after the worm trails that appeared in the ground after it thawed at the end of winter. It is also called the Chaste Moon, Death Moon, and Crust Moon.

April’s full moon is called the Pink Moon — named after an early blooming wildflower. Other cultures call April’s moon the Egg Moon and the Fish Moon.

May’s full moon is known by many cultures as the Flower Moon, after the flowers that bloom in spring. It’s also called the Hare Moon and the Milk Moon, among other names.

June’s full moon is known as the Strawberry Moon, named after the harvesting of strawberries during this month. In Europe, it’s known as the Rose Moon, while other cultures call it the Hot Moon.

The full moon in July is known as the Buck Moon, which got its name from when male deer began to regrow their antlers. It’s also known as the Thunder Moon and Hay Moon.

The full moon in August is known as the Sturgeon Moon by North American fishing tribes because the fish species appear during this month. It’s also known as the Green Corn Moon and the Red Moon.

September’s full moon is called the Full Corn Moon, because this is the time of year when crops are gathered following summer. It’s also known as the Harvest Moon as it is often the nearest full moon to the autumnal equinox.

The full moon in October is called the Hunter’s Moon because October is the preferred moon to hunt deer and foxes that cannot hide among crops. It’s also called the Travel Moon and the Dying Grass Moon.

November’s full moon is called the Beaver Moon. Some believe it’s named after the time of year Native Americans set up beaver traps, while others believe it comes from the time of year beavers build their winter dams.

December’s full moon is known as the Cold Moon due to the cold weather winter brings. It’s also known as the Long Night Moon.