2026 Harvest Moon: When is it and how to see it
FILE - An orange "harvest moon" rises over Manassas, Virginia Sept. 26 2007. (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP via Getty Images)
The Harvest Moon will be on full display tonight, so don’t forget to look up.
2026 Harvest Moon
Dig deeper:
The Harvest Moon will be visible on or around Sept. 26, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, reaching full illumination at 12:49 p.m. ET (9:49 a.m. PT).
The moon will appear full for three days, so you will have some time to witness it (weather permitting, of course).
The best time to see it is just after the sun sets. Look toward the eastern sky.
The Harvest Moon does not always happen in September. Sometimes it shows up in October. This all depends on how the lunar cycle aligns with the Gregorian calendar, according to the Almanac.
If the Harvest Moon happens in September, it replaces the month’s usual Full Corn Moon. But if it occurs in October, it replaces the month’s Full Hunter’s Moon.
Why is it called the Harvest Moon?
The backstory:
The Harvest Moon rises soon after the sun sets, providing bright moonlight in the early evening.
This extra light used to help farmers who were harvesting their summer crops.
Look for Saturn
Additionally, sky watchers can catch Saturn in the night sky just after 9 p.m. local time, according to Space.com.
What you can do:
Look up from the east-southeastern horizon, and you should be able to see a bright yellowish-white star shining brightly on a cloudless night.
On Saturday, the Harvest Moon should be located directly above Saturn in the sky.
What's next:
Next year’s Harvest Moon will fall on Sept. 15, according to the Time and Date Calendar website.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Farmer’s Almanac website, Space.com and the Time and Date website. This story was reported from San Jose.