September’s Full Corn Moon and Rare Eclipse
September’s full moon is right around the corner, and it’s shaping up to be a very special one. This year, the moon of early September isn’t just any full moon—it’s the Corn Moon, and it will also double as a blood moon during a total lunar eclipse. The timing makes it especially meaningful, since it arrives just weeks before the official start of fall.
The peak of the Corn Moon will occur on Sunday, September 7, at exactly 2:09 p.m. Eastern Time. Because that peak happens when the moon is still below the horizon in North America, it won’t be directly visible at the precise moment. But the good news is the moon will look full on both Saturday and Sunday evenings, giving skywatchers plenty of opportunities to catch it glowing brightly once the sun goes down.
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The name “Corn Moon” comes from tradition. Early farmers used this moon as a seasonal marker for corn harvests across the northern United States, and the term stuck. Over time, other names have also been attached to September’s moon—things like the Autumn Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, or even Yellow Leaf Moon—all highlighting the shift from late summer into the cooler, leaf-turning season ahead.
But this year’s Corn Moon has something extra: it will appear as a blood moon. A blood moon happens during a total lunar eclipse, when the Earth moves directly between the sun and the moon. Instead of disappearing into darkness, the moon takes on a reddish or coppery tint. This happens because Earth’s atmosphere bends and filters sunlight, scattering blue light away while letting the red and orange hues from global sunrises and sunsets fall across the moon’s surface. It’s an eerie but stunning sight that can last for quite a while—up to nearly two hours in some cases.
Unfortunately, North America won’t be in the right place to see this eclipse. The totality will be visible from parts of Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia, where millions of people will witness the moon turn deep red in the afternoon sky. Nearly 77% of the world’s population is expected to catch at least part of it. For those in the U.S., the next chance to see a total lunar eclipse will come in March 2026.
Even without the eclipse, the September moon will still be worth watching. Forecasts suggest much of the United States will have clear skies the night of September 7 into the early hours of September 8, so the glowing Corn Moon should be visible across wide stretches of the country.
And for those keeping track, this isn’t the only celestial highlight of the season. October’s full moon will be the Harvest Moon, falling on October 6, followed by the Beaver Moon in November and the Cold Moon in December. But for now, the Corn Moon of September—tinged with the rare identity of a blood moon—reminds us that summer is winding down and autumn is on the way.
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