A Partial Lunar Eclipse of the Harvest Supermoon Occurs Soon—Here's How to See It

Fall is right around the corner, and soon the sky will put on a spectacular show to welcome the cozy season ahead. The full Harvest moon (which is also a supermoon!) rises on September 18, 2024. But that's not all—in addition to appearing bigger and brighter than normal, the Harvest moon will also experience a partial lunar eclipse.

September's full moon is the moon that occurs closest to the start of autumn, or the autumnal equinox. It's coined the Harvest moon, a name that comes from the time before electricity, when farmers needed the moon's light to harvest their crops throughout the night. Per NASA, the moon's light was particularly important during fall, when harvests are largest.

Last September, the Harvest moon was also a supermoon. But this year, stargazers are in for an extra special treat: the moon will be partially eclipsed in the night sky. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth, and moon aren't perfectly aligned, resulting in the moon passing through only part of Earth's umbra. According to NASA, the shadow grows and then recedes without fully covering the moon.

Though the full moon won't be at its biggest and brightest until September 18, the lunar eclipse is expected to occur in North America at around 8:41 p.m. EST, according to TimeandDate.com. Though it will be visible to the naked eye, stargazers should anticipate a small eclipse that hides just about four percent of the moon's disk.

A full moon occurs when the moon is opposite the sun, as viewed from Earth. A full supermoon appears to us as a larger-than-normal moon in the night sky because it is slightly closer to Earth. According to NASA, a supermoon is a nickname for a perigean full moon, which is a moon that is full and at its closest point in its orbit around Earth.

How much bigger the moon looks depends on its exact distance from Earth. Astronomer Fred Espenak has created a table that provides the dates and distances for full supermoons until 2100. In 2024, the full Harvest moon will be followed by two additional supermoons in October and November.