On Saturday 26 September, stargazers will be treated to one of autumn’s most atmospheric celestial events: the Harvest Moon. September‘s full moon will reach peak illumination at 4.49pm UTC (5.49pm BST), but the best views will come after sunset, when it rises above the eastern horizon. This year, there’s another reason to look up: Saturn will appear close to the Moon in the night sky.
As astrologer Lisa Stardust explains, “The Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the fall equinox. This year, the fall equinox occurred on September 23 in the UK, making September 26’s lunation a breathtaking view for us all to take in. The Harvest Moon lights up the sky with an orange hue that lasts a little bit longer than the other full moons. It is a moment when we prepare for the colder seasons of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.”
The Harvest Moon is the name given to the full moon that falls closest to the autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, which occurred on 23 September this year. While the Harvest Moon usually falls in September, roughly every three years the Harvest Moon falls in October instead.
Lisa Stardust explains what the Harvest Moon is on a spiritual level: “Spiritually, the harvest moon is a time to reflect on and appreciate the abundance of resources Earth provides. At this moment, we gather tools and make plans for fall and winter, giving ourselves a vision of what the future holds.”
“The Full Moon around Autumn Equinox is our cue to reset for the new season. We close out on summer in the Northern Hemisphere and propel ourselves into the final quarter of 2026. The sun is in sociable Libra, whilst the moon boldly glows in upfront Aries. We turn our attention away from the sunshine and enter into the ‘moonshine’. This full moon gives us extra evening light and opens up a pathway for our autumn and winter plans. We can make our new intentions, align with the cosmos and set out on a new celestial season,” add Debbie Frank, astrologer and teacher in the Academy of Alchemy.
Normally the moon rises roughly 50 minutes later from one day to the next, whereas around the Harvest Moon the interval is shorter at northern latitudes. Historically, this provided farmers with extra moonlight after sunset during the busy harvest season.
The Harvest Moon has long been associated with the changing seasons and harvest traditions around the world. Full moon names have historically been used as a way of marking the seasons, although their origins vary between cultures and traditions.
“For centuries the Harvest Moon has been viewed as reliably throwing the brightest night light for gathering crops close to the time of autumn equinox. Our crop harvest may have moved earlier in the farming calendar these days, but astrologically the meaning of the Harvest Moon remains highly significant,” says Frank.
Despite centuries of folklore linking full moons with everything from disrupted sleep to changes in human behaviour, there is little strong scientific evidence that a full moon has a significant effect on our physiology or behaviour. What does change noticeably is the night sky: for several evenings around the Harvest Moon, moonrise occurs relatively soon after sunset, creating brighter early evenings.
If we are looking at it astrologically, “the full moon occurs in the sign of Aries, which means we will be acting impulsively and passionately as we move forward with our desires and aspirations. Full moons mark a time of contemplation and release. It’s the end of the monthly lunar cycle that speaks to our emotions. Even though we will be restless, the universe wants us to take it easy and plan for the seasons ahead. Journaling, meditation, connecting with nature, and relaxation are pivotal,” Stardust says.