Look up this weekend: September’s special full moon is almost here

If you’ve been meaning to get outside and look up at the night sky, this weekend offers a great opportunity.

September’s full moon will reach its fullest on Saturday, 26 September, giving South Africans a chance to see the bright Spring Moon rising over the eastern horizon.

When is the full moon?

The full moon will officially occur at 18:48 p.m. SAST on Saturday, according to the Centre for Astronomical Heritage. Timeanddate puts the exact full-moon phase at about 18:49 in South Africa.

That means the Moon will already be rising around sunset, making Saturday evening a particularly good time to watch.

And you don’t necessarily have to wait until precisely 18:48. The Moon will appear essentially full around the time of the full-moon phase, and it will remain strikingly bright on the evenings immediately before and after.

Why is it called the Spring Moon?

South Africa has its own traditional names for the full moons, rather than simply adopting the Northern Hemisphere’s seasonal terminology.

The September full moon is known as the Spring Moon in the South African system, reflecting spring’s arrival in the Southern Hemisphere.

The timing is also close to the September equinox, which occurred on 23 September this year and marked the astronomical beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

What can you expect to see?

The Moon itself will be the main attraction, appearing particularly impressive as it rises above the horizon.

There is also a planetary bonus.

NASA says the Moon, Saturn and Neptune will be close together in the sky on 26 September. Saturn should be visible without optical equipment, while Neptune is much fainter and requires binoculars or a telescope to see.

For the best view of the Moon, find somewhere with a reasonably clear view towards the eastern horizon and as little artificial light as possible.

You don’t need a telescope to enjoy it: the full moon is easily visible with the naked eye.

And don’t be surprised if the Moon looks yellow, orange or even reddish when it first appears.

This is caused by Earth’s atmosphere. When the Moon is low on the horizon, its light travels through more of the atmosphere before reaching your eyes, scattering shorter blue wavelengths and leaving more of the warmer colours visible.

The effect can make the Moon look especially dramatic shortly after moonrise.

So, if the weather is clear on Saturday evening, it may be worth stepping outside around sunset and watching for the Spring Moon as it climbs into the sky.