Mark your calendars for Tuesday, Sept. 17th, because the sky is about to put on a dazzling show! The full Harvest Moon will rise, illuminating the night with its ethereal glow, but it won’t be alone. This year, the moon will be partially eclipsed by Earth’s shadow, creating a spectacular cosmic event.
For those lucky enough to be in North America, South America, Europe, and Africa, the view will be breathtaking. You’ll be able to witness the eclipse unfold, with Saturn shining brightly near the moon throughout the entire spectacle.
This year’s September full moon, known as the Harvest Moon in the Northern Hemisphere, has a special significance. Not only is it the final full moon of summer, but it’s also a supermoon. This means our celestial neighbor will appear slightly larger and brighter than usual. Why? It’s all thanks to the moon’s elliptical orbit around Earth. When the moon reaches its closest point to Earth, known as perigee, during a full moon, it appears larger in our sky. September’s supermoon is the second in a series of four consecutive supermoons in 2024, following last month’s blue supermoon.
While the full moon will be a magnificent sight at moonrise wherever you are, the lunar eclipse doesn’t begin until later. The moon will be officially full at 10:34 p.m. EDT, just before the partial eclipse reaches its peak.
The eclipse will begin with the moon drifting into Earth’s penumbra—its fuzzy outer shadow in space—causing a subtle dimming over about 90 minutes. This penumbral eclipse phase will occur between 8:41 p.m. and 10:13 p.m. EDT.
Next, the moon will graze Earth’s darker inner shadow, the umbra. Though only 8.4% of the lunar surface will recede into the umbra, according to NASA, this will be the most dramatic part of the partial eclipse. You can watch it between 10:13 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. EDT, with the peak eclipse moment occurring at 10:44 p.m. EDT.
After reaching its peak, the eclipse phases will reverse as the moon begins to leave Earth’s shadow, with the final penumbral phase taking place between 11:15 p.m. and 12:47 a.m. EDT.
For a detailed schedule specific to your location, visit timeanddate.com.
While you can enjoy the full moon and the eclipse with just your naked eye, stargazing binoculars and backyard telescopes can help you see details on the lunar surface that are invisible without them. So, get ready to witness this celestial wonder and make the most of this rare opportunity to observe a partially eclipsed Harvest Moon!
