2025, September 30-October 7: Harvest Moon – A Seasonal Full Moon Near the Autumn Equinox

September 30-October 7, 2025: The Harvest Moon, the Full Moon closest to the autumn equinox, rises in early October 2025. Learn why its light has guided farmers for centuries and how to watch its nightly change

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Harvest Moon

The Harvest Moon is the bright moon that occurs nearest the autumnal equinox. While this seasonal moon is associated the changing colors of autumn, it has astronomical backing.

Traditionally, the bright moon during the harvest season provided extra light to collect and store the farmers’ crops. The moon’s light illuminates terrestrial features and casts shadows.

Beginning September 30^th, watch the nightly position of the moon.  From night to night, the moon moves eastward compared to the background stars.  Typically, the moon’s altitude noticeably changes.  During autumn, the moon appears low in the southern sky, not making much change from night to night.  As the moon reaches the Full moon phase, its rising time – which averages a delay of about 50 minutes each night – diminishes.

For three nights after the Full moon night, it rises before the end of evening twilight, producing enough light to extend some light to work. On October 7^th the moon rises only 26 minutes later than the previous night; October 8^th, 30 minutes; and October 9^th, 37 minutes.

Here’s What to See

• September 30: The bright moon, 60% illuminated, is over 20° above the southern horizon.
• October 1: The gibbous moon (70%) is over 20° above the south-southeast horizon.
• October 2: Nearly 80% illuminated, the moon is over 20° up in the south-southeast.  It is 8.3° to the right of Deneb Algedi – the kid’s tail.
• October 3: The bright moon (87%) is over 20° above the southeast horizon, 5.3° to the moon’s upper right. Saturn is nearly 30° to the moon’s lower left.
• October 4: The gibbous moon (94%) is 20° up in the east-southeast, 14.0° to Saturn’s upper right.
• October 5: Approaching the Full moon phase, the moon is 2.4° to Saturn’s upper left and 16° above the east-southeast horizon.
• October 6: The Harvest Moon is 11° up in the east, 15.5° to the lower left of Saturn.
• October 7: The bright moon (98%) is 6° above the east-northeast horizon.

Watch the Harvest Moon effect occurs during late September and early October.  The Full moon occurs October 6^th at 10:48 p.m. Central Time.

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