A partial lunar eclipse happens tonight. After the supermoon, when is October's full moon?

The September Harvest Moon will shine in our skies tonight, and yes, it's another astronomical phenomenon.

Every month has a special full moon, named after something significant during the month, thanks to the Native Americans. July had a Buck Moon and August had the Sturgeon Moon, according to the Farmer's Almanac , and this September's full moon will be the Harvest Moon.

Not only that, but the September full moon is also a supermoon that will bring a partial lunar eclipse.

The 'supermoon' became visible on the evening of Monday, Sept. 16. It will shine at peak illumination as a partial solar eclipse tonight on Tuesday, Sept. 17, according to Space.com .

What time can you view the lunar eclipse and when will be the October full moon? Here's what to know.

The September full moon supermoon will be a partial lunar eclipse

Not only is the September Harvest Moon a supermoon, but it will also be a partial lunar eclipse, according to Space.com.

This partial lunar eclipse will be visible in most of the United States. The darkest phase of the lunar eclipse is set to be viewed at roughly 10:44 p.m. ET tonight. In a partial lunar eclipse, the moon sits partly inside the Earth’s shadow, also known as the umbra.

Why will the supermoon appear red during tonight's lunar eclipse?

The moon won't have its usual creamy gray or yellow color—it will instead be a brownish-red color tonight.

During lunar eclipses, the color of the moon tends to be similar to the tints of sunrises and sunsets. This hue change is due to how the sun's light interacts with the atmosphere. Since the moon will partially sit in the Earth's shadow, longer wavelengths of light from the sun will pass through the Earth's atmosphere while the shorter wavelengths scatter, causing the moon to illuminate in a reddish color, according to the National History Museum .

How do light wavelengths create color during a lunar eclipse?

The colors red and orange have longer wavelengths than blue and violet, which scatter more easily. Because longer wavelengths can pass through the Earth’s atmosphere, it gives the moon a reddish and orangish color. If there are enough clouds and dust, the moon will appear more red.

What is a partial lunar eclipse?

Unlike a total lunar eclipse, a partial lunar eclipse occurs when there’s an imperfect alignment of the sun, Earth and moon. The moon passes through a part of the Earth’s umbra without being entirely covered by the shadow.

Why is the September full moon called the Harvest Moon?

The Harvest Moon came to be called that because of the abundance of bright moonlight in the early evening hours when farmers harvested their crops. In the days before electricity, they worked well into the night as autumn began.

What is October's full moon?

According to astronomy.com , October's full moon will be visible on Thursday, Oct. 17.

In 2023, October's full moon was also a partial lunar eclipse , according to USA Today.

Why is October's full moon called the Hunter's Moon?

Native American tribes gave each full moon a unique name to keep track of the seasons, according to Almanac.com .

The October full moon was named the Hunter's Moon by Algonquin Native American tribes, which "signified it was time to go hunting in preparation for winter," according to AccuWeather .

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: A partial lunar eclipse happens tonight. After the supermoon, when is October's full moon?