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The September Full Moon is a fan-favorite among amateur stargazers and astronomers alike. The Full Moon marks the lunar cycle, which lasts an irregular 29.53 days. During the Full Moon, the Earth's lunar companion is fully lit by the Sun on its Earth-facing side. If known as the Moon or Corn Moon, it is the Full Moon closest to the Autumn Equinox and the astronomical start of fall.
What is a Full Moon? Why do we have different phases of the Moon?
As the lunar orb flies around the Earth and the Sun, we always see the same side of the Moon facing our planet.
But the amount of sunlight falling on the moon, Moon and Sun.
This dance results in the lunar cycle and lunar phases, which start with the shrouded New Moon.
The Full Moon occurs when Earth's satellite is on the opposite side of the planet with the Sun's rays falling directly onto it.
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September Full Moon: The Harvest Moon is the full moon of the year (Image: GETTY)
When is the full moon this year?
Because the lunar cycle is shorter than the calendar month, the date on which the full moon falls every year.
For several evenings, the moonrise comes soon after sunset
Last year, for instance, the Full Moon peaked on the morning of September 25.
Next year, the Harvest Moon will make an early appearance in the morning hours of September 2.
In 2019, however, the Full Moon phase will peak on Saturday, September, 14.
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Depending on where you live, the Full Moon might even make an appearance on the unlucky date of Friday 13th.
In the US, for instance, the Moon will show up early in the Central, Mountain and Pacific time zones.
This means the Harvest Moon will peak before midnight on Friday 13th.
In Los Angeles, California, the Moon will peak around 9.32pm PDT.
In West Yellowstone, Montana, the Full Moon will peak around 10.32pm MDT.
September Full Moon: The moon's movement determines the phases of the moon (Image: GETTY)
What time will the Full Moon phase peak this year?
On Friday, the Moon will hit complete illumination around 5.32am BST (4.32am UTC).
When viewed from London, UK, this will happen less than one hour before the Moon will set for the day.
On September 14, the Moon will dip below the horizon at 6.25am BST (5.25am UTC) and rise again later at 7.54pm BST (6.54pm UTC).
Further up north in Glasgow, Scotland, the Moon will be set at 6.36am BST (5.36am UTC) and reappear around 8.15pm BST (7.15pm UTC).
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Why is the Full Moon called the Harvest Moon?
The Moon's 12 full phases are dubbed after the changing seasons and how they affect the landscape.
For instance, the April Pink Moon is named after a type of pink wildflower that blooms around the start of spring.
The Cold Moon in December, is named after the chilling wintry weather around that time of year.
In most cases, the lunar names are attributed to the traditions of Native American tribes living on the east coast of America.
Fred Schaaf of the Old Farmer's Almanac guide to nature and astronomy said: "For several evenings, the moonrise comes soon after sunset.
"This results in an abundance of bright moonlight early in the evening, which was a traditional aid to farmers and harvesting their summer-grown crops. Hence, it's called the 'Harvest' Moon. "
The Harvest Moon also coincides with the astronomical arrival of autumn, marked by the Autumn Equinox on September 23 this year.
The equinox occurs when the Sun is closest to the equator and crosses the celestial equator overhead at noon.
September Full Moon: The Harvest Moon Peaks on Saturday, September 14, 2019 (Image: GETTY)
September Full Moon: Some stargazers in America will catch a glimpse of the Moon on Friday (Image: GETTY)
The Harvest Moon was also popularized by the 1903 song Shine On Harvest Moon by Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth.
The song's lyrics are:
Shine on, shine on harvest moon
Up in the sky,
I'm not had no lovin '
Since January, February, June or July
Snow time is not going to stay
Outdoors and spoon,
So shine on, shine on harvest moon,
For me and my gal.
September Full Moon: The Harvest Moon will be fully illuminated in the morning hours (Image: GETTY)
What is the next Full Moon after Harvest Moon?
The next Full Moon is the Hunter's Moon on October 13.
The Royal Observatory Greenwich in London said: "After the Harvest Moon comes to the Hunter's Moon, in the summer of the year.
"Like the Harvest Moon, the Hunter's Moon is also particularly bright and long in the sky, giving the opportunity to stalk prey at night.
"Other names include the Moon Travel and the Dying Grass Moon."
What are the Full Moon names this year?
In total, there are 12 Full Moon phases with unique names in the Old Farmer's Almanac.
The Full Moons are:
- January 21 – Wolf Moon
- February 19 – Snow Moon
- March 21 – Worm Moon
- April 19 – Pink Moon
- May 18 – Flower Moon
- June 17 – Strawberry Moon
- July 16 – Buck Moon
- August 15 – Sturgeon Moon
- September 14 – Full Corn Moon
- October 13 – Hunter's Moon
- November 12- Beaver's Moon
- December 12 – Cold Moon
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