A Harvest Moon Is Coming and Here’s When You’ll Be Able to Get the Best View

Depending on where you are in the country, you may have been lucky enough to feel that first chill of fall in the air. For us, the cooler temperatures have been a very welcome reprieve from the heat–it sure was a hot, humid summer in our neck of the woods!

Fall for us means getting back into routines, preparing for the mad holiday rush that will soon be upon us, pumpkin patches–and sky gazing.

We know, we know, the last one might seem kind of random, but if you have ever had the pleasure of setting your eyes on a bright, orange harvest moon, then you know why it’s on the list of our “fall favorites.”

A harvest moon is a full moon that occurs leading up to, or directly following, the Autumnal Equinox. Because the lunar calendar is ever-shifting, the exact date of the harvest moon is never the same every year, but typically it lights up the night’s sky in either September or October. This year, the harvest moon will be on September 24th, just 48 hours after the start of the Autumnal Equinox.

As you can see from the gorgeous picture we’ve provided you, harvest moons are big, beautiful, and saturated with glowing hues. The best time to see one is directly after sunset, when the moon is closest to the horizon. It is then that that orange orb will appear at its most brilliant.

You’re just a few days away from enjoying one of the best spectacles that fall has to offer. Set a reminder to step outside and look up at the sky just after sunset–you will be wowed!

We can’t wait to hear your take on this upcoming harvest moon. What is the most beautiful harvest moon you’ve ever seen? Do you have any tips for photographing it? What’s your favorite part about fall?

Source: EarthSky