Harvest Moon to light up UAE skies

Remember to look up tomorrow night!

The UAE will witness the Harvest Moon on the night of September 18 — the second of four supermoons scheduled to happen in 2024.

“The Harvest Moon happens once a year around September or October and appears 30% brighter and 14% larger than a typical full moon,” said Khadijah Ahmad, operations manager at Dubai Astronomy Group.

The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, one of the two times each year when the sun equally illuminates both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It often looks more orange or red due to its lower position in the night sky.

The name “Harvest Moon” comes from its historical significance.

“The name originates from its importance to farmers, providing extra light for harvesting crops during the fall,” Ahmad said. “It has roots in various agricultural traditions worldwide, especially in Europe and North America, where farming was central to daily life.”

How can I watch it?

While the Harvest Moon is easily visible to the naked eye, a telescope or binoculars will enhance the view of the moon’s surface. The best time to observe is just after sunset, when the moon is low on the horizon.

For those seeking a more immersive experience, the Dubai Astronomy Group is hosting an event at the University of Dubai campus from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 18. The program includes a lecture and Q&A session about the supermoon. Attendees will also be able to observe the Harvest Moon through a telescope and learn how to capture it with their phones or cameras.

Ahmad also shared a few tips for amateur photographers:

• Use a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a telephoto lens.
• Use a tripod.
• Set the shutter speed to one to two seconds and keep the ISO low to reduce noise.
• Include foreground elements like buildings or trees for context.
• The best time to capture images is during moonrise to get the “illusion” of a larger moon.

The Harvest Moon will rise less than 24 hours after a partial lunar eclipse at 4 a.m. on Sept. 18. In the UAE, the eclipse will manifest as a subtle dimming of the moon, which is hard to spot with the naked eye. Those interested can watch the Dubai Astronomy Group’s livestream of the eclipse here.

The next supermoons are the Hunter's Moon on October 17 and the Beaver Moon on November 15.