The Harvest Moon appears just after sunset and reaches peak illumination at 5:58 A.M. Eastern Time on Saturday the 10th, drifting below the horizon shortly thereafter.

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.