The 2026 Harvest Moon Rises This Weekend With Saturn Shining Nearby
Learn why September’s full moon returns so soon on Sunday evening, and how to see it beside Saturn.
This weekend, the Harvest Moon will rise with Saturn shining nearby in the eastern sky. The bright moon, which gives farmers extra hours of work, is full at 12:49 p.m. EDT on Saturday, September 26, 2026. As it rises around sunset, Saturn should become visible near the moon. NASA suggests no telescope is needed to see Saturn, which will be bright and visible throughout the night.
The two celestial bodies will appear close together, though Saturn is over 3,000 times farther away. Neptune, another distant planet, will also be nearby but requires binoculars or a telescope to view. The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, which occurred on September 22, 2026. Its name originates from this alignment rather than a fixed date, so it can sometimes fall in October.
In New York City, the moon rises at 6:34 p.m. on Saturday, just 12 minutes before sunset, and at 6:58 p.m. on Sunday, 14 minutes after sunset. These times may vary depending on location, so check the moonrise for your specific area and find a spot with an unobstructed view to the east.
Written by urgent.news from Discover Magazine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
