Expect an enlarged, illuminated lunar spectacle with a reddish hue.
When will the super harvest blood moon appear? The official full moon is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 17 and the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 18. In the days leading up to and after the full moon, a mostly full moon can be seen. Between Sept. 16-20, a moon that is over 90% full will be visible every night. So if you miss it on Sept. 17, you can still catch a glimpse of the larger and brighter moon on other nights, just not completely full.
The moon is easily spotted in the sky and will rise in the eastern sky for all those in the US at approximately 7:50 p.m. ET on the East Coast and 7:10 p.m. PT on the West Coast. Don't forget to also keep an eye out for T Coronae Borealis - a white dwarf star that is expected to go nova soon and will appear as a new star in the sky for some time.
The upcoming blood moon on Sept. 17 is a result of this type of eclipse. This event will be visible throughout the continental US, with variations in timing depending on your location. On the East Coast, it will begin at approximately 8:41 p.m., reach its peak at 10:44 p.m., and end around 12:47 a.m. The West Coast can expect the eclipse to begin at 7:12 p.m., as the moon rises over the horizon, reaching its maximum at 7:44 p.m., and concluding by 9:47 p.m. To determine when it will happen for you, simply add or subtract an hour based on your time zone.
While not a significant eclipse, you'll still witness a temporary disappearance of part of the moon before it reappears. The most noticeable aspect may be the change in color rather than visibility. However, if you're anticipating a full lunar eclipse, you won't have to wait too long as one is scheduled for Mar. 13, 2025.
A supermoon occurs when the moon reaches its perigee, its closest point to Earth during its orbit. This results in a larger and brighter appearance than usual. These events usually happen three to four times a year, typically in succession. Last month, we witnessed a rare blue supermoon, with September bringing the second supermoon of the year. The upcoming months of October and November will also feature supermoons. On the other hand, what exactly is a blood moon? When there is a partial or total lunar eclipse, the moon experiences a blood moon phenomenon. The Earth blocks direct sunlight from illuminating the moon, causing sunlight to bend around our planet's magnetic field. This process filters out most of the other colors, leaving only shades of red to color the moon. Like supermoons, blood moons occur intermittently throughout the year.
The combination of a super harvest blood moon is a rare occurrence. While each individual component may not be uncommon, the alignment of all three events is quite unusual. This phenomenon happens only once every few years, with the next one expected in September 2033 and then again in 2042.