Full moon tonight
The gist
The September harvest moon reaches peak illumination at 12:49 p.m. EDT on Sept. 26.
It appears full for two to three nights, rising 20-30 minutes later each evening.
How it unfolded
- Sep 22, 2026The autumnal equinox arrived, marking the start of astronomical autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Sep 24, 2026The moon was in its waxing gibbous phase, appearing 95% illuminated.
- Sep 25, 2026The harvest moon began appearing full Friday night; the moon was 98% illuminated. Neptune reached opposition.