This weekend, the Corn Moon rises over the eastern horizon, bringing with it the glorious sight of a big, bright full Moon and, if you’re in the right location, a beautiful ‘blood Moon’ lunar eclipse.
The Corn Moon is visible on the night of September 7, 2025 from just after sunset.
Here we’ll explore what the Corn Moon is, why it’s also a ‘blood Moon’ eclipse, and how it will meet Saturn in the evening sky.
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The September full Moon is known as the Corn Moon because it appears around the time corn would traditionally have been harvested. Credit: Benkrut / Getty Images
Corn Moon explained
A full Moon is a wonderful sight and, long before the advent of artificial light, would have been a true celestial spectacle, a prominent feature of the evening sky brightening the sky once a month (or more) throughout the year.
As a result of the full Moon’s appearance in the night sky every month, each full Moon has historically come to symbolise big events or changes in nature during the month in question.
And as such, each full Moon has acquired one or more nicknames over the centuries.
September’s full Moon is known as the ‘Corn Moon’, because it appears at the time when corn was traditionally harvested in North America.
The nearly-full Moon rising above St. Emiliano Church, Trevi, Italy, captured by Paolo Palma, 15 September 2024. Equipment: Nikon Coolpix p510 camera, ISO 400, 1/50s
The September full Moon is also sometimes known as the Harvest Moon, but not always.
That’s because the Harvest Moon is the closest full Moon to the September equinox, and so it may either fall on the September full Moon or the October full Moon.
In 2025, the Harvest Moon rises on 6 October, meaning this year’s Corn Moon is not the Harvest Moon.
As you may have guessed, these informal Moon nicknames are just that: nicknames. They don’t indicate that the full Moon will look different than any other full Moon of the year.
However, in September 2025 the full Moon will look different, if you happen to be in the right part of the world, because it will undergo a lunar eclipse, also known as a ‘blood Moon’.
Why the Corn Moon is the blood Moon
Map showing where the September 7 2025 lunar eclipse is visible. Credit: F. Espenak, NASA’s GSFC eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html
On September 7, 2025, the full Moon will undergo a total lunar eclipse if you’re observing in Europe, parts of Africa, Asia and Australia.
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon.
Sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere on its way to the Moon, the light is refracted and scattered by Earth’s thick atmosphere, and when it hits the lunar surface, it turns the Moon a rusty red colour.
The September 7 lunar eclipse isn’t visible from North America or South America, although, as you can see from the NASA diagram above, western parts of Alaska may be able to see the blood Moon as it sets.
And eastern parts of Argentina may see a portion of the lunar eclipse as the Moon rises.
According to TimeAndDate.com, Adak will be the best city in Alaska to see the lunar eclipse, but it will be tricky!
A lunar eclipse is known as a ‘blood Moon’ because it appears rusty red. Credit: Aumphotography / Getty Images
The best countries to see the full ‘blood Moon’ eclipse will be in the eastern parts of Africa, central Asia – including countries like India and China – and the western half of Australia.
If you’re observing the September 7 lunar eclipse from the UK or Europe, you’ll need to catch the Moon as it’s rising in order to make the most of it.
That means you’ll need a flat, clear eastern horizon.
The blood Moon rises. How the September 7 total lunar eclipse will look from the UK at 20:00 Credit: Pete Lawrence
The Moon will rise in the east around sunset and, if you’re observing from the UK or Europe, it will already be eclipsed as it rises.
This could make for a wonderful sight and a great opportunity to capture a beautiful photograph.
For more info, read our full guide to the September 7 2025 blood Moon eclipse and our guide on how to photograph a lunar eclipse.
Saturn and the Corn Moon
Chart showing the location of Saturn in the night sky during September 2025, including at opposition on 21 September. Credit: Pete Lawrence
On the evenings of 6–8 September, the Moon will rise in the same patch of sky as the planet Saturn, making for a beautiful naked-eye pairing of the Moon and the ringed planet.
Look for the Moon rising in the southeast on the evening of Saturday 6 September and you’ll see Saturn far to the left of it.
The Moon will be closer to the southeast and Saturn will be closer to the east, both rising at roughly the same time after sunset.
Look again on 7 September as the now-full Moon – and lunar eclipse – rises in the east.
Now the Moon is further east than it was on 6 September, but Saturn has remained in the same place, meaning the two bodies appear closer together.
Monday 8 September is the best time to see the Moon and Saturn in September, as they’ll be very close together when they rise above the eastern horizon after sunset.
Saturn and Neptune are visited by a 98%-lit waning Moon on 8 September 2025. Credit: Pete Lawrence
Saturn is approaching opposition on 21 September 2025, which is the best time to see the planet.
Over the coming weeks, as the Moon begins to wane and moves out of the way, there’ll be a great opportunity to get out your binoculars or telescope and see Saturn at its best.
For more info on this, read our guide on how to observe Saturn and how to observe Saturn’s moons.
And keep observing the coming full Moons in October, November and December 2025, because we’re about to be treated to three consecutive supermoons in a row.
It seems astronomy season is well and truly upon us. The nights are getting darker, Saturn is approaching its best and there’s plenty to see in the autumn and winter night sky.
If you do manage to see the Corn Moon, the September 7 lunar eclipse or the Moon’s tango with Saturn, share your observations and photographs with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com