The Harvest Moon of September 2024 will be special.
All full moons are stunning in their own right, but this month's Harvest Moon will be especially notable. In addition to being a slightly larger-than-average “supermoon,” September's full moon will also experience a partial lunar eclipse when it rises on the evening of September 17.
The partial lunar eclipse will be visible from most of North America, all of South America, Europe, all but the easternmost parts of Africa, western parts of Asia and Russia, and parts of Antarctica.
“Supermoon” is a non-astronomical term describing a full moon that occurs when the Moon is at or near perigee, the point of closest approach to Earth in its slightly elliptical orbit. During these times, the Moon may appear slightly larger in the sky, although the difference may be difficult for most observers to notice with the naked eye.
September's Harvest Moon is the second of four consecutive supermoons this year, following August's Super Blue Moon.
Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on our natural satellite.
These eclipses also provide a useful visible reminder of the Earth's spherical shape for those of us on Earth, as the umbra forms a curve in the Moon's visible disk.
This lunar eclipse is, unfortunately, mild; only the upper portion of the moon will be submerged in the darkest part of Earth's shadow, known as the umbra. Still, the partial lunar eclipse should offer interesting contrast in craters and other features on the lunar surface for those with telescopes or binoculars.
Aside from the small darkened portion at the top of the lunar disk, most of the visible lunar disk will be in Earth's penumbra, the lighter part of the planet's shadow that doesn't completely block the Sun's light. This will give most of the moon a reddish-brown, slightly “blotchy” appearance.
The timing of the partial lunar eclipse depends on the observer's location. For observers in the U.S. Eastern Time Zone, the eclipse will enter its darkest phase when the moon is most covered by Earth's umbra around 10:44 p.m. EDT on Sept. 17.
Europe and Africa will see the eclipse during the pre-dawn hours of September 18. In London, the eclipse will be most visible at around 3:45am BST on September 18.
For a complete list of partial lunar eclipse landmarks for your viewing area, head to InTheSky.org and enter your location.
No matter what night it is, the moon never disappoints through any optics. If you want to get a closer look at the moon's many features during lunar eclipses or any other time, be sure to check out our guides to the best telescopes and the best binoculars.
And if you want to capture photographs of our natural satellite, we have tips on how to photograph the moon, as well as guides on the best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography.
Don't miss our night sky tonight page and monthly skywatching calendar for more celestial events to enjoy!