The Last Full Moon of Summer Rises This Week—With a Total Lunar Eclipse in Some Areas

Key Points
The Corn Moon, the last full moon of summer, will rise on September 7. It takes this name because October’s full moon falls closer to the autumn equinox and gets the “Harvest Moon” title instead.This year’s Corn Moon coincides with a total lunar eclipse (blood moon), causing the moon to appear a reddish color.Viewing conditions vary worldwide. The total lunar eclipse will be visible in Australia, Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe, while the Americas will miss it entirely since the moon will be below the horizon.

From dozens of northern lights sightings to a rare black moon, this summer has been a spectacular one for stargazers. And another upcoming astronomical highlight will be here this weekend—the full Corn Moon happens this Sunday, September 7, and is the final full moon of summer. 

Most years, September’s full moon is known as the Harvest Moon because it is usually the closest full moon to the autumnal equinox. This year, the equinox, which falls on September 22, is closest to October’s full moon, meaning it gets the moniker the Harvest Moon. According to TimeandDate.com, this switch-up happens every three years or so. When September’s full moon isn’t the Harvest Moon, it’s called the Corn Moon.

Other Celtic and Old English names for the full moon include the Wine Moon, the Song Moon, and the Barley Moon. The Anishinaabeg people call the September moon “Wabaabagaa Giizis,” meaning the “Changing Leaves Moon,” according to the Center for Native American Studies.

For the best view of the full moon, catch it as it rises in the east shortly after the sun has set in the west on September 7. While you can see it with your naked eye, binoculars and telescopes can help you spot details on the surface.

This year’s Corn Moon will also be a total lunar eclipse, commonly known as a blood moon. Per NASA, this phenomenon occurs when Earth lines up between the sun and the moon, hiding the moon from sunlight. The only light that reaches the moon’s surface during a total lunar eclipse is from the edges of Earth’s atmosphere. The air molecules from Earth’s atmosphere filter most of the blue light, causing the remaining light to reflect on the moon’s surface with a red glow.

According to Space.com, those living in Australia, Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe will see the entire total lunar eclipse, while viewers in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Brazil will get a glimpse of the eclipse, but miss some or all of totality. Unfortunately, the moon will be below the horizon for the entirety of the eclipse for stargazers in the Americas.