There’s a mountain of evidence that having a sense of purpose is correlated with feeling happy. And while an inanimate object such as the moon can’t feel emotions, humans have much to thank our natural satellite for in terms of its purpose. From the tides to seasons to gravitational stability, if the moon were a person it would no doubt feel pretty content.
Even better, our moon is somewhat of an entertainer, putting on a dazzling display every few weeks that we here on Earth call the full moon. And this month’s full moon is no exception: September’s “corn moon” will reach its peak illumination on Sunday, September 7.
And if you are lucky enough to live in certain areas of Australia, Asia, Europe, or Africa, you will be graced with a total lunar eclipse.
Even those who live outside those regions can enjoy the show, with a clever solution that bypasses both geography and weather. Read on to discover more about this month’s full moon and how to see it.
How did September’s full moon get its nickname of the ‘corn moon’?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac collected and popularized different names for the monthly full moons, immortalizing them in print.
These monikers are apparently based on Native American, Colonial, and European traditions. September’s full moon supposedly gets the title of the corn moon because this month is traditionally when corn was ready to harvest.
What’s the science behind a full moon?
Simply put, a full moon occurs when the Earth is directly between the sun and the moon, which means the entire face of the moon becomes visible as it is bathed in sunlight. The full moon is one of several lunar phases that mark the moon’s orbit around the Earth.
While the full moon has a peak when it is at its fullest and brightest, it remains full to our eyes for a couple of days before it starts to wane.
When is September’s corn moon?
September’s corn moon will be at its fullest on September 7 at around 2 p.m. ET, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. That means the moon will be below the horizon, but it will remain full and bright to our eyes for a couple of days before it starts to wane.
What is a total lunar eclipse?
Colloquially known as a blood moon, a total lunar eclipse happens when the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow, also known as the umbra, effectively blocking out the light from the sun.
Earth’s atmosphere filters and refracts the sun’s light, so although the moon doesn’t become entirely dark, it turns a deep red or orange color. That’s because short wavelengths of light, like blue and violet light, tend to scatter more easily than those with longer wavelengths, like red or orange light.
When, where, and how can you watch the total lunar eclipse?
The upcoming total lunar eclipse will take place on the evening of September 7–8, depending on your location.
It will last around an hour and 22 minutes, according to NASA.
Skygazers located in Asia and Western Australia will have the “best seats in the house” for this natural phenomenon because they will be in the path of totality—the zone where the eclipse is most visible.
Other night sky enthusiasts in western Africa, western Europe, and eastern Australia and New Zealand will also get to see the eclipse to some degree.
Unfortunately for moon fans in the U.S., a lunar eclipse is visible from half the Earth, and this one is not going to be visible from North America.
But that doesn’t mean the show will not go on. Space.com has your back and is hosting a free livestream and blog with updates of the total lunar eclipse, so you can catch the whole thing live despite geography and potential cloud cover.
The website Time and Date is also covering the event. The curtain rises at 11:28 a.m. ET and totality occurs at 1:30 p.m. ET. The full runtime is 82 minutes.
And never fear if you don’t catch this one: The next total lunar eclipse that will be visible from the U.S. is set to occur on March 3, 2026.
Happy moon-viewing! Perhaps that’s your true purpose after all.
