Just after sunset on September 28–30, 2023, grab your plaid wool blanket and thermos of Pumpkin Spice Latte and head outside. It's the time of year for one of our favorite early fall activities: gazing upon the full Harvest Moon. And not to worry—no harvesting is required to spot this large, bright, orange moon.
Whether you're planning a fall date or scouting fall photoshoot ideas, here's what you need to know about this lunar event.
What is the Harvest Moon? And what is its meaning?
The Harvest Moon is the full moon that happens closest to the autumnal equinox, or the official start of fall. For several nights in a row, a large full moon rises shortly after sunset. Long before electricity, farmers would take advantage of this bright moonlight when it was time to harvest. The extra light extended the evening working hours, hence why it's called a Harvest Moon.
The date varies from year to year, but the Harvest Moon usually occurs in September in the Northern Hemisphere. Every so often, it falls in October. (In the Southern Hemisphere, it's the full moon closest to the equinox in March).
We can thank the moon's orbital position in relation to Earth this time of year for the qualities of the Harvest Moon.
In general, a full moon rises and sets on the opposite schedule of the sun (the sun and moon on are on opposite sides of the Earth during this moon phase, after all). The following night, you can expect the moon to rise about 50 minutes later on average as the moon travels along its tilted orbit.
During a Harvest Moon, however, the moon's orbit is nearly parallel to the Earth's eastern horizon at sunset. The result: Not only can you expect a prompt full moon rise at sunset, but also the moon rises only 25 to 30 minutes later each day (the delay gets even shorter the farther north you are of the equator, says Astronomy.com). So, we enjoy several evenings of full (and nearly full) moons that light the sky just as the sun drops off.
The Harvest Moon may also be called a Corn Moon, Barley Moon, or Wine Moon (all names for September's full moon), or the Singing Moon or Elk Call Moon (we can get behind this name!). Some of these names tell us what crops were harvested with the help of this bright moon in days of old.
When can we see it this year?
The 2023 fall equinox is on September 23 in the Northern Hemisphere. The Harvest Moon, or the full moon closest to the equinox, is the next full moon on September 29. (Technically, this full moon will reach its peak in the wee hours of the morning that day. But the Old Farmer's Almanac says it will be below the horizon by then.) The Harvest Moon will appear full for a few days, beginning the day before. So mark your calendars for evening strolls September 28–30!
What does it look like?
If you catch a glimpse, you'll notice that this annual spectacle looks particularly beautiful. Compared to your average moon, it can appear bigger, brighter, or more orange if you look right after sunset when it's close to the horizon. The larger appearance is a visual trick called “the moon illusion,” while the orange or reddish color is due to viewing the low-hanging moon through particles in Earth's atmosphere.
The Harvest Moon also occurs right around when birds are migrating south for the winter. So, depending on where you live, you might see birds fly by the full moon for a truly stunning sight.
Your Harvest Moon viewing party soundtrack must include…
- “Shine on Harvest Moon.” This song, which dates to 1903, was covered by the late Leon Redbone.
- “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young (or this cover by Lord Huron). Fun fact: Neil Young has sung a lot about the moon—28 times to be exact! Many of his projects relied on the lunar calendar for production and release as a form of good luck.
Leah Hall is currently a digital producer and writer for Country Living. She is based in Huntsville, Alabama.
