The Harvest Moon rises this weekend, and this one comes with some added extras. Stargazers are in for a treat with this month's full moon thanks to its timing and another astronomical event.
The Harvest Moon, also known as the Corn Moon, is the full moon closest in date to the first day of autumn, or the autumn equinox, and on a clear night it is usually stunning. It gained its name because it comes close to harvesting season, and has several days in succession which have similar levels of light which traditionally lit the fields for collecting the crops.
Many believe the moon is bigger in the sky at this time, making a stunning photograph opportunity. However, the reality is that it is an optical illusion that simply makes it look bigger when it is lower down near the horizon.
When and where to see it in the UK
Those living in the UK will see the Harvest Moon rise in the eastern sky around sunset and track across the southern portion of the sky, before setting in the west around dawn the following morning. According to the Royal Museums Greenwich, this will happen on Saturday, September 26 at 5.49pm.
For those watching, they might also be able to see bright orange skies, making the event even more picturesque than normal. And if you keep a close eye out over both Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, you can also see what looks like a bright star lying close to the Moon.
That star is actually the planet Saturn, which is currently approaching opposition. To complete the cosmic trio, Neptune is also nearby. While Saturn will be visible to the naked eye, Neptune will need aids such as a telescope for it to be seen.
How to photograph the Harvest Moon
The event is something many will want to capture on camera, and to help, Adrianne Yates, creative lead at photo printing experts CEWE, has shared her top tips. She said this will help whether you are planning on using a smartphone or dedicated camera.
She said: "To capture the Harvest Moon on a phone, lower the exposure manually and steady your device on a tripod or flat surface. Tap the screen on the moon and slide the brightness meter down until dark surface details and craters become visible. Turn on Auto Focus / Auto Exposure lock so the camera doesn’t shift light levels unexpectedly."
"Another effective trick is switching your phone to 4k video mode. Zoom in slightly, lower the exposure, and use the snapshot button while recording to extract a sharp still frame. Frame the moon next to a building, tree, or bridge near the horizon to give the image scale and shoot in RAW format using a DSLR."
How to photograph Saturn and the cosmic triangle
Coinciding with the Harvest Moon, Saturn will appear directly below and to the left of the moon, shining as a golden point of light alongside Neptune to form a temporary cosmic triangle. Adrianne says: "Avoid relying on standard auto modes, which will overexpose the scene and wash Saturn out in the glare of the full moon. Switch to manual mode or video mode so you can pull the brightness down."
"Turn off Night Mode entirely as automatic night settings attempt to turn the dark sky into daylight, blowing out the composition. If you’re using a dedicated camera to capture both objects, stick to a focal length between 18mm and 50mm and keep your shutter speed under 2 to 4 seconds to avoid motion blur as the moon travels."
