Here’s how to see the September ‘Corn Moon’ from the UK

Will you look out for the full Corn Moon? (Photo: Shutterstock)Will you look out for the full Corn Moon? (Photo: Shutterstock)
Will you look out for the full Corn Moon? (Photo: Shutterstock)

The next full moon is taking place on Wednesday 2 September, and this one is called the Corn Moon.

But where does it get its name from - and when’s the best time to see it from the UK?

What is a Corn Moon?

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In September, you’ll be able to see a full moon which is decorated with orange hues.

It is called the “Corn Moon” because in the 1930s, the Maine Farmer’s Almanac first published Native American names for the full moons, with these names becoming widely known and used.

According to this almanac, Nasa states, the Algonquin tribes “called this the Corn Moon, as this was the time for gathering their main staple crops of corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice”.

The September full moon is also sometimes called the Fruit Moon, Barley Moon or the Hungry Ghost Moon.

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The names ‘Fruit Moon’ and ‘Barley Moon’ come from the time of year of this full moon - at the end of summer when many fruits ripen and harvesting takes place.

It is also called the Hungry Ghost Moon as the time the moon appears coincides with the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival.

The seventh month of the Chinese calendar is the Ghost Month and the 15th day of this month (a full moon day) is called Ghost Day, when ghosts and spirits come out to visit the living.

When is the full moon taking place?

Nasa states: “The next full Moon will peak after midnight on Wednesday morning, Sept. 2, 2020, appearing "opposite" the Sun (in Earth-based longitude) at 1:22 a.m. EDT.

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“The Moon will appear full for about three days around this time, from Monday evening through Thursday morning.”

While the moon will peak at a certain time, it should still be visible all evening.

You can check the moonrise and moonset times of your specific location using the Sunrise Sunset Calendar website to work out exactly what times the moon will be visible for you.

How do I view it in the UK?

You don’t need any special equipment to view the moon in the UK. Simply find a spot with good visibility to view the sight.

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Jamie Carter, science writer for Forbes, says: “Try to look at a full Moon when it’s high in the sky and you will find it almost impossible to look at it for more than a few seconds; the glare is just too much.

“However, when observed close to the horizon, not only is the full Moon less bright, but it’s a muted orange that gradually turns to a pale yellow, which slowly brightens as it rises higher in the sky.”

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