September's full moon will put on quite the show on the evening of Sept. 17. Not only are we treated to a slightly larger-than-average "supermoon" but also a partial lunar eclipse.
On the evening of Sept. 17, a partial lunar eclipse will turn the moon a murky red-brown color when Earth's shadow descends upon the lunar surface.
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 portions of Asia and Russia, and parts of Antarctica.
The exact timing of the partial lunar eclipse depends on your location and you can use websites like Timeanddate.com to find specific timings based on your location. For those in the U.S. Eastern Time Zone, the eclipse will reach its darkest phase, with the moon most obscured by Earth's umbra, at approximately 10:44 p.m. EDT on Sept. 17. In Europe and Africa, the eclipse will occur during the early morning hours of Sept. 18. In London, the peak of the eclipse will be visible around 3:45 a.m. BST on September 18.
If you are unable to watch the lunar eclipse in person you can watch all the action unfold online here on Space.com. We have rounded up several lunar eclipse livestreams that are showing the Super Harvest Moon on Sept. 17.
The Science Behind the Super Harvest Moon Lunar Eclipse
A supermoon happens when a full moon coincides with the moon's closest point to Earth in its orbit (which is elliptical-shaped). As a result, the moon appears slightly brighter and larger than usual, although the difference is subtle and hard to detect with the naked eye.
The term supermoon generally refers to a full moon within 90% of its closest approach to Earth. According to Fred Espanak, eclipse expert and retired NASA astrophysicist, there will be four supermoons in 2024, in August, September, October and November.
Why This Lunar Eclipse is Special
The partial lunar eclipse is extra special as it also falls during a "supermoon", the second of four supermoons in a row for 2024.
Don't Miss Out on This Once-in-a-Lifetime Event
This unique celestial event will be a beautiful sight for anyone who can see it. So be sure to mark your calendar for Tuesday night, Sept. 17, and find a spot with clear skies to enjoy this special celestial event. You can also watch the lunar eclipse unfold online here on Space.com. Remember to look up and enjoy this unique and beautiful phenomenon in the night sky!
The Harvest Moon's Legacy
The Harvest Moon, which has inspired no shortage of cultural touchstones – from a Nintendo game to Neil Young’s Billboard hit – occurs annually around the start of fall at a time when Earth's only natural satellite is especially close to our planet.
The extra light has traditionally provided farmers with more time to pick (or harvest) their crops, and so the name "Harvest Moon" was born.
Autumn is historically a busy time of year for farmers as they work past sundown harvesting the summer's crops, according to NASA. As such, moonlight became an essential part of farming.
According to NASA, the first known written use of the name "Harvest Moon" in the English language was in 1706, per the Oxford English Dictionary.
Catching a Glimpse of the Super Harvest Moon Lunar Eclipse
The lunar eclipse will be visible for a short period of time. The exact timing of the eclipse depends on your location. Here is a quick overview of where and when the eclipse will be visible.
- North America - The eclipse will be visible across all of North America.
- South America - The eclipse will be visible across all of South America.
- Europe - The eclipse will be visible in all of Europe.
- Africa - The eclipse will be visible in all of Africa, except for the easternmost parts.
- Asia - The eclipse will be visible in the western portions of Asia and Russia.
- Antarctica - Parts of Antarctica will be able to see the eclipse.
If you miss Tuesday night’s eclipse and supermoon, unfortunately, the next one will not happen until Oct. 8, 2033.
But you will be able to see another full supermoon on Oct. 17 and a total lunar eclipse on March 14, 2025.
There will also be an annular solar eclipse, or “ring of fire” eclipse, when the moon passes between the Earth and sun, but is at or near its farthest point from our planet, on Oct. 2. But the only potential viewers within the U.S. that will have a chance to see it will be in Hawaii.
