A stunning selection of photographs captured last nights Harvest Moon in all its glory, as the Earth’s natural satellite lit up skies around the world.
This is the closest full moon to the autumnal equinox – the moment the sun appears to cross over the celestial equator – on September 22.
In the UK, the full moon rose at 19:23 BST and set at 06:52 BST early this morning, but the spectacle will appear full and bright for the next two nights.
On average, the moon rises 50 minutes later than sunset each day, but when it is an equinox moon, it can rise as little as 25 minutes after sunset.
The September full moon was named Harvest Moon in the 1700s when farmers depended on the glow of moonlight to harvest crops late at night.
The Harvest Moon rises earlier, sets later and in some very northerly latitudes like Alaska, can remain full and bright for up to a week.
A photographer snapped a star-struck couple gazing at the full moon over an ancient stone circle on the Isle of Lewis
The Harvest Moon rises behind midtown Manhattan, One Vanderbilt, the Chrysler Building, the Spiral, Hudson Yards and the Empire State Building as the sun sets in New York City
The full moon is seen from Tokyos Roppongi district. This is the closest full moon to the autumnal equinox – the moment the sun appears to cross over the celestial equator – on September 22
Unlike other moon names, the Harvest Moon isn’t tied to a specific month. Whilst it is usually in September, it can also occur in October.
According to NASA, farmers used the light of the full moon closest to the equinox to extend their workday beyond sunset before electric light was invented.
‘It was the only way they could gather their ripening crops in time for market.
‘The full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox became “the Harvest Moon,” and it was always a welcome sight,’ the US space agency explained.
‘The term became further entrenched in popular culture thanks to a 1903 pop tune called “Shine on Harvest Moon”.’
The Harvest Moon can occur any time from a fortnight before, to a fortnight after the autumn equinox and is either the last full moon of summer, or the first full moon of autumn.
This is the fourth full moon of summer this year, and will peak before the equinox actually happens, making it a summer moon.
In the southern hemisphere it is the fourth full moon of the winter, known as a worm moon – in the winter the Harvest Moon happens in March.
In one of the images of the 2021 Harvest Moon, a photographer snapped a star-struck couple gazing at the spectacle as it rose over an ancient stone circle on the Isle of Lewis.
The full moon sets behind the hills of the Taunus region near Wehrheim, Germany. According to NASA used the light of the full moon closest to the equinox to extend their workday beyond sunset before electric light was invented
The Harvest Moon, also known as the Corn Moon, is seen behind Boston Light as it rises in Boston, Massachusetts, US
The Harvest Moon is seen with the Presidential Complex, in Ankara, Turkey. The Harvest Moon can occur any time from a fortnight before, to a fortnight after the autumn equinox and is either the last full moon of summer, or the first full moon of autumn
Grant Jones, 50, lives on the Hebridean island and usually takes landscape photos, but was out during moonrise and snapped the shot on Sunday – just before the moon reached its full peak.
He got married at the stone circle, Callanish, in 2014, so took delight in watching a ‘loved-up couple’ walking through the stone circle arm in arm.
‘It was twilight, it was getting dark. I knew the moon would be rising. They came into the stones and they appeared transfixed by the moon. It made a lovely image.’
The Harvest Moon got its name from the ability farmers had to use the extra light to harvest their crops until the early hours – long after sunset.
The full Harvest Moon rises behind the top of the antenna on One World Trade Center in New York City. This is the fourth full moon of summer this year, and will peak before the equinox actually happens, making it a summer moon
The full moon sets behind the hills of the Taunus region near Wehrheim, Germany. On average, the moon rises 50 minutes later than sunset each day, but when it is an equinox moon, it can rise as little as 25 minutes after sunset
Stunning images of the Harvest Moon have been captured from around the world, including in the UK over Birmingham (left) and the Isle of Wight (right)
The Harvest Moon sets behind the Statue of Liberty before sunrise. The September full moon was named Harvest Moon in the 1700s when farmers depended on the glow of moonlight to harvest crops late at night
A full moon, also known as the ‘Harvest Moon’ is seen over the Hanoi skyline at dawn on September 21, 2021
The Harvest Moon rises earlier, sets later and in some very northerly latitudes like Alaska, can remain full and bright for up to a week, often appearing bigger because people tend to view it closer to sunrise, as with this image from Boston, US
It provides dusk-til-dawn moonlight for several evenings in a row, making harvest time easier, and longer, for farmers – rising 30 minutes after sunset instead of the usual 50 for other moons, due to the equinox.
According to EarthSky: ‘For very high northern latitudes, there’s even less time between successive moonrises.
‘The farther north you live, the greater the Harvest Moon effect. For instance, at Anchorage, Alaska the moon will rise at nearly the same time for a week!’
Swimmers took to the sea to swim under the Harvest Moon in Swanpool Beach, Falmouth, to mark the equinox
The full harvest moon rises Monday, September 20, 2021, as viewed from Olympia, Washington. The moon is the last full moon before the autumn equinox, which will take place Wednesday
While the Harvest Moon is no closer, and no different to the average full moon, many people view it soon after sunset, at a time when all full moons appear more orange.
TV presenter, author and world-class astronomer Mark Thompson said the best time to view a full moon was just after sunset as the gas and dust in the atmosphere will turn it an ‘eerie orange colour’.
‘To successfully capture lunar close-ups, a long lens is a must. Aspiring photographers should check out these expert tips from Canon for more advice,’ he advised.
It can be a spectacular sight, although isn’t actually any larger, brighter or more orange than other full moons, it just appears that way, as with this view over South Shields lighthouse on the north east coast
The full moon known as the Harvest moon rises over Whitby Abbey, in Whitby. Much of the UK was covered with clouds, obscuring the moon and giving it an eerie feel
The September full moon is more often than not the Harvest Moon, but if the October full moon happens closer to the equinox than the September moon, then it would be the Harvest Moon.
This is because the Harvest Moon is always the one closest to the point of equinox, or the instant in time when the plane of Earth’s equator passes through the geometric center of the sun’s disk.
An equinox happens twice a year, around March 20 and again around September 23 – although this year it is on September 22.
It is the moment when the centre of the visible sun is directly above the equator.