When is the full moon in September? Harvest supermoon to shine for days

The upcoming harvest moon will be a supermoon that will appear in the sky for three full days.

The harvest moon is different from all other full moons in such that it is not tied to a particular month, but is linked to the timing of the autumnal equinox, which each year occurs in September or October. This year the equinox will be on Sunday, Sept. 22.

Here are some quick facts about what makes this September's full moon so special.

When is the full moon in September?

The harvest moon will be visible on the evening of Monday, Sept. 16 and then it will shine at peak illumination by 10:34 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Sept. 17.

• New moon: Tuesday, Sept. 3
• First quarter: Wednesday, Sept. 11
• Full moon: Tuesday, Sept. 17
• Last quarter: Thursday, Sept. 26

Why is it called the harvest moon?

The full moon closest to the autumnal equinox is called the harvest moon, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac . The name came to be because of the abundance of bright moonlight in the early evening hours when farmers harvested their crops.

Unlike other full moons, the harvest moon rises at nearly the same time for the few nights surrounding it, just 25 to 30 minutes later each day, versus the average 50 minutes later each day throughout the year, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. It will also rise close to dusk for those few nights, appearing like a full moon for three days in a row.

This year's harvest moon will also be a supermoon.

What is a supermoon?

A supermoon happens when a full moon's orbit is closest to the Earth at the same time the moon is full. According to NASA , at approximately 226,000 miles from Earth, the full moon appears brighter and larger than a regular full moon, hence the term, supermoon.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon - known as the hunter's moon - will take place on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7:26 a.m. EST.

Includes reporting by USA Today Network reporter Maria Francis

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: When is the full moon in September? Harvest supermoon to shine for days