Harvest Moon Set to Appear This Weekend

The September full Moon, known as the Harvest Moon, will reach its peak illumination on Saturday, September 26, at 17:49 BST. While it will still be below the horizon for much of the UK at that exact moment, it is expected to appear nearly full throughout the evening as it rises.

This full Moon earns its name from its proximity to the autumn equinox, which occurred on Wednesday. Historically, the extra light from the Harvest Moon after sunset aided farmers in gathering their crops. Another traditional name for this moon is the Corn Moon, referencing the crops harvested during this period.

However, the Harvest Moon does not always fall in September; if October's full Moon is closer to the autumn equinox, it claims the title.

The appearance of the Moon low in the sky, near the horizon, can make it look yellow, orange, or even reddish. This phenomenon occurs because its light travels through more of Earth's atmosphere, scattering shorter blue wavelengths and allowing longer red and yellow wavelengths to dominate.

Weather forecasts suggest that Saturday may bring drier and brighter conditions to parts of England, though cloud cover is anticipated in western areas, with rain expected in Scotland and Northern Ireland by evening. Southern and eastern regions of the UK currently have the best outlook for clear skies.

Moonrise times will vary across the United Kingdom but will occur shortly after the Moon reaches its fullest point. Updates on local weather conditions can be found on the BBC Weather app and website.