The full moon will be visible at 5:58 AM. EDT (0958 GMT) on Saturday (September 10). The moon is visible for most of the night at this time of the month, rising near dusk and setting just before dawn. The moon is officially full when it appears in the sky completely opposite (180 degrees from) the sun. The September full moon is also called the Harvest moon in the northern hemisphere, as this full moon falls near the autumnal equinox, which traditionally marks the start of the harvest season. This month’s full moon will also appear in the sky near two of its celestial companions in our solar system, Jupiter and Neptune. Jupiter will appear particularly bright this month because it is at opposition, meaning Earth is between the giant planet and the sun. Jupiter will be bright enough throughout the month to be visible to the naked eye, but will make for a spectacular sight through binoculars or a backyard telescope. Jupiter will appear about 8 degrees to the left of the moon at midnight and then shift to about 6 degrees above the moon at 5:47 AM. EDT (0947 GMT), according to NASA Science’s Daily Sky Watch Guide (opens in a new tab). (A fist at arm’s length corresponds to about 10 degrees in the sky.) Neptune will also appear in the sky, although the distant ice giant will not be as bright and visible as Jupiter. Neptune will rise shortly after 10:00 p.m. EDT (02:00 GMT on September 11) and will travel west across the sky toward the southeastern stars of the constellation Aries. The planet will be about 4.5 degrees northwest of the moon, but another way to spot Neptune will be to look for the moderately bright star 20 Piscium a few fingers above the moon. Neptune will be directly to its west. Neptune will be somewhat faint at magnitude 7.8, and the bright full moon will make it even more difficult to view. Neptune will be somewhat brighter over the next few nights and will be at its brightest when it reaches opposition on Friday, September 16. You can see our guides for it the best binoculars and the best telescopes to spot the Harvest Moon, Jupiter, Neptune or any other celestial objects in the night sky. If you’re hoping to get a good photo of the moon, check out our suggestions for the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography. Editor’s Note: If you take a photo of the Harvest Moon near Jupiter and Neptune and want to share it with Space.com readers, please send your photos, comments, and your name and location to [email protected] . Follow Brett on Twitter at @brettingley (opens in a new tab). Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) or enabled Facebook (opens in a new tab).
