The final of four supermoons in 2023 will happen this month, it's also the first full moon of fall!

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Supermoons

The middle of 2023 has been jam-packed with supermoons.  July and August had three supermoons between them and September's full moon will also be the final supermoon of the year.  According to the Natural History Museum, supermoons aren't exactly uncommon, and we typically will see 3-4 a year, but they're still pretty cool to see!

A full Moon occurs once in each lunar cycle, which lasts 29.5 days. But not every full Moon is a supermoon - there are only usually three or four supermoons in a year. Between 2020 and 2025, there will be four each year.

During a supermoon, the Moon is at a stage where it is closest to Earth.

The Harvest Moon

The Harvest Moon usually happens in September, but sometimes it can fall in October.  According to The Farmer's Almanac the Harvest Moon is the moon that falls closest to the fall equinox.

The full Moon that happens nearest to the fall equinox (September 22 or 23) always takes on the name “Harvest Moon.” Unlike other full Moons, this full Moon rises at nearly the same time—around sunset—for several evenings in a row, giving farmers several extra evenings of moonlight and allowing them to finish their harvests before the frosts of fall arrive. 

This year the Harvest Moon also happens to be the final supermoon of the year.

When to see the Harvest Supermoon

Almanac says to look to the sky just after sunset on September 28th and you should be able to see the Harvest Moon.

This year, look for September’s full Harvest Moon to appear just after sunset on Thursday, September 28. It then reaches peak illumination at 5:58 A.M. Eastern Time on Friday the 29th, drifting below the horizon shortly thereafter.