September's Full Moon arrives in the early hours of the morning on Sunday 27, just four days on from the equinox. It will officially move from a waxing gibbous to full at 2:49am AEST.

Its close proximity to the equinox means this is our Harvest Moon for 2026. If you thought the Harvest Moon was supposed to be in October, you're not wrong. It's actually a term used for whichever Full Moon is closest to the equinox date. This year, it's our September Full Moon but in other years, it could be the October Moon.

If you're looking to get the best view of our Harvest Moon, we've got all the best times to see the moonrise. Plus, we explain what its placement in Aries means for you astrologically and spiritually.

When is the best time to see September's Harvest Moon?

Thanks to an optical illusion, the Moon always looks its biggest when it's close to the horizon and this is usually around sunset.

While this Full Moon technically falls on Sunday 27, it reaches its peak at 2:49am AEST – meaning the best view is actually the night before on Saturday 26. Below are the Saturday sunset and moonrise times in your Australian capital city.

• Sydney – sunset 5:54 pm, moonrise 5:29 pm AEST
• Melbourne – sunset 6:19 pm, moonrise 5:56 pm AEST
• Brisbane – sunset 5:45 pm, moonrise 5:21 pm AEST
• Canberra – sunset 6:02 pm, moonrise 5:38 pm AEST
• Adelaide – sunset 6:14 pm, moonrise 5:52 pm ACST
• Perth – sunset 6:15 pm, moonrise 5:56 pm AWST
• Hobart – sunset 6:11 pm, moonrise 5:47 pm AEST
• Darwin – sunset 6:42 pm, moonrise 6:20 pm ACST

What to expect from the Full Moon in Aries?

Full Moons are the energetic peak of the Moon Cycle. What does this mean? Well, it means a frenetic mood will be the air. Emotions run high and tensions and pressures can reach breaking point. People can be moodier and more emotional. It's a high-voltage, high energy moment. Some people even report having trouble sleeping in the lead up to a Full Moon.

As this particular Moon is placed in Aries, it comes with a cleansing and emboldened energy. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and is associated with new beginnings, action and the opening of opportunities. Here, we are asked to take our place in the driver's seat and be an active participant in our own destiny – not simply a passenger.

This was never going to be passive. Aries is passionate and brash, and here this sign encourages us to burst through and knock down the barriers in our way; you'll find they will no longer feel as imposing as they once did. Now is the time to move, act and take charge. Feel empowered to move forward into your next life phase. If you don't, you could find yourself left behind. Remember, there will never be a 'perfect' time to make a change. More than ever, fortune favours the brave.

That said, there can and will be teachable moments for you to find. High-energy times of tension are not the right occasions to brazenly speak your mind with little thought to the consequences. With Mars in Cancer squaring off against Mercury, it threatens us with hot-headedness. But don't be thrown off your course, Mercury's placement in Libra will be there to offer balanced guidance and allow you to soften any harsh edges. Make sure you actively learn from any missteps to avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

Remember, most of our outer planets are currently in a retrograde transit, piloting us through a period of self discovery and development. While this is often a cleansing experience, it can also be a confronting and uncomfortable one. You will need to give the people around you some grace – and extend the same to yourself – as you navigate this period. But ultimately, accept this Full Moon as a forward step in the right direction. That is, if you choose to take it.

Want more Horoscopes? You might also like:

• Are you a September or October Libra? Why the month you’re born in matters
• What to expect from the September equinox – and why you need to manifest
• What exercise you should try based on your star sign
• These are the movies to watch based on your star sign
• Uranus retrograde in Gemini is asking you to rethink how you communicate

Image: Zoltan Tasi on unsplash