When to see the full ‘corn’ moon peak over IL, plus 3 supermoons later this year
A full “corn” moon will peak soon over Illinois, and the autumn equinox is also quickly approaching.
This month’s full moon is referred to as the “corn” moon in honor of the seasonal corn harvest, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. Many moon names come from Indigenous cultures. The Farmers’ Almanac uses Indigenous moon names, along with monikers from colonial America and other North American sources.
The full moon in September 2024 was called the harvest moon, as it was the nearest full moon to the autumnal equinox. This year’s autumn equinox occurs Monday, Sept. 22, and this year’s harvest moon will peak Monday, Oct. 6.
The harvest moon switches from September to October about every two to three years on average, according to the Farmers’ Almanac, though the last October harvest moon was in 2020.
The autumn equinox marks the official beginning of astronomical fall in the Northern Hemisphere, and it happens when the sun is positioned exactly above the equator, according to NASA.
Here’s when to see this year’s corn moon over Illinois, plus when to catch more full moons in 2025.
When will the corn moon peak?
The corn moon will peak over Belleville at 1:09 p.m. Central Daylight Time Sunday, Sept. 7, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Since the moon will be below the horizon and the sun will be up at this time, you’ll get a better view after sunset.
AccuWeather’s forecast says the night of Sept. 7 will be clear to partly cloudy in Belleville, with a low of 48 degrees Fahrenheit. The moon generally appears full the day before and after its peak illumination. For those planning to stargaze the night of Saturday, Sept. 6, you can expect clear skies, while the night of Monday, Sept. 8 will be partly cloudy.
The moon will rise over Belleville at 7:24 p.m. Sept. 7, according to online clock Time and Date.
When to see more full moons in 2025
After the corn moon, stargazers will have three more opportunities to see a full moon this year, and each of them will be a “supermoon.” Here’s when to look, from Astronomy.com:
- Monday, Oct. 6: Hunter’s moon or harvest moon
- Wednesday, Nov. 5: Beaver moon
- Thursday, Dec. 4: Cold moon
The St. Louis Astronomical Society will host a general meeting open to the public from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19 at Room 162 in McDonnell Hall at Washington University in St. Louis.
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