Full Harvest Moon: images of the exceptional Super Moon with partial eclipse

On the night of September 17-18, a Super Harvest Moon lit up the sky, accompanied by a partial lunar eclipse. This rare event attracted the attention of astronomers and enthusiasts alike. We take a look back at this rare event in pictures.

The Harvest Full Moon, scheduled for Wednesday September 18, was all the more fascinating for being a Super Moon. Indeed, the Moon was at its closest point to the Earth, perigee, giving it an impressive size and luminosity. In addition to the Super Moon, a partial eclipse could be observed with the naked eye. We were able to take some photos of this impressive phenomenon with our reflex. Our natural satellite crossed the Earth's penumbra.

Images from around the world

What is the Harvest Full Moon?

The Harvest Full Moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. This year, 2024, it took place on the night of September 17-18, peaking at 4:34 am (Paris time). The name refers to the time when farmers used the light of this full moon to prolong their harvests after sunset.

Why are we talking about a Super Moon?

The full moon in September 2024 was also a Super Moon. This means that the Moon was at its perigee, i.e. at its closest point to the Earth, giving it a larger and brighter appearance than usual. It will appear up to 7% larger than an average full moon.

What is a partial lunar eclipse?

A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and Moon, but the alignment is imperfect. The Moon passes into the Earth's penumbra, slightly darkening part of its disk. Unlike a total eclipse, the effect is much more discreet and sometimes difficult to observe with the naked eye, which was not the case yesterday.

When and where could we see the partial eclipse?

The eclipse began at 2:41 am (Paris time) on the night of September 18 and reached its maximum at 4:44 am. The eclipse was visible around the world, particularly in Europe, Africa, Asia and parts of North America.

Why does the Moon appear larger near the horizon?

This is known as thelunar illusion. When the Moon is low in the sky, close to the horizon, it appears larger than terrestrial objects such as buildings or trees. This illusion is particularly marked on full moons close to the equinox, such as the Harvest Full Moon.

What are the other lunar phenomena at the end of 2024?

The year 2024 features 12 full moons, with traditional nicknames like the Wolf Moon in January and the Snow Moon in February. As for the Super Moon, there are 5. After this Harvest Super Moon, we still have the Hunter Super Moon on October 17. The next total lunar eclipse is scheduled for March 14, 2025.

In short, on September 18, 2024, the Full Harvest Moon offered a fascinating spectacle, even if the partial eclipse remained discreet. To observe it, all you had to do was look up at the sky. For the eclipse, you had to wait until the dead of night.