What is a Corn Moon? When to see full Moon in September

The UK will see September’s full Corn Moon in a matter of days and it’s expected to be bright in the sky.

The Corn Moon gets its name from farming, as in September, farmers gather their crops as summer ends.

You might also recognise it as the Barley Moon or Harvest Moon, as it has more than one name.

Here’s what we know about the Corn Moon and what to expect in UK skies in September 2026.

What is a Corn Moon?

“September’s full corn moon is so called because this is when crops are gathered at the end of the summer season.

“At this time, the Moon appears particularly bright and rises early, letting farmers continue harvesting into the night.

“This moon is also sometimes named the barley moon, and it is often the nearest full moon to the autumnal equinox, earning the title of ‘harvest moon’”, explains the Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) website.

When will the Corn Moon be visible in September?

You can look out for the Corn Moon this week as it’s expected to be visible on Saturday, September 26.

Check the sky above you at around 5.49pm to catch a glimpse of the full Moon because this is when it will be visible in London.

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How to see a full Moon

BBC Sky At Night Magazine explains that “many astronomers will tell you not to bother trying to observe the full Moon, as it’s best seen during the crescent and gibbous phases.”

However, if you’re excited to see a full Moon, it’s suggested that you go to an observing site on a clear night.

The magazine suggests: “It’s all too easy to take the rising full Moon for granted, only stopping to watch if you glimpse it inadvertently rather than treating it as a celestial event in its own right.

“Yet if you can get to an observing site with an unobstructed horizon on a clear evening, there are many fascinating phenomena to catch sight of as the Moon climbs.”

When it comes to photographing a planet on a phone, the magazine adds: “If you want to record the planets as more than just dots, point your phone’s camera down the pre-focused eyepiece of a telescope.

“Known as afocal imaging, this takes a bit of practice and a steady hand!”

When is the next full Moon and when was the last?

The last full Moon was the Sturgeon Moon on Friday, August 28.

After the Corn Moon in September, you can expect to see the Hunter’s Moon.

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It gets this name as it is “the preferred month to hunt summer-fattened deer and fox unable to hide in bare fields.”

RMG adds: “Like the harvest moon, the hunter’s moon is also particularly bright and long in the sky, giving hunters the opportunity to stalk prey at night.

“Other names include the travel moon and the dying grass moon.”

Will you be looking out for the Corn Moon this weekend? Let us know in the comments.