Photographers get incredible full Harvest ‘super’ moon photos around Pacific Northwest
Scott Sistek 2 min read
Full Harvest Moon rises over a ferry in Kingston, Wash. on Oct. 6, 2025. (Photo courtesy: Brendan Ramsey Photography)
KINGSTON, Wash. — Sky watchers have been in for a treat to kick off this week as the clear skies have coincided with one of the brightest — and longest — full moons of the year: The Harvest Moon.
Local photographer Brendan Ramsey was out near the ferry dock in Kingston on the Kitsap Peninsula Monday night and spotted the full moon rising above one of the ferries to Edmonds.
Meanwhile, Jen Grand of Wild Sky Photography was down catching the show in Oregon and snapped this gorgeous Harvest Moon shot over Mt. Hood:
While getting clear skies in early October right on the night of the full moon had enough luck involved, this moon was an even better show than usual.
First, it’s a “supermoon” full moon — as in one of the times this year when the moon is at its closest point in its orbit around the Earth, timed with when it’s full. That means the moon is just a little larger and brighter than average.
Also, the Harvest Moon – so named because it is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox and provides extra evening light for the summer’s harvest — has a bit of an astronomical quirk.
This time of year where the moon makes its journey across the sky lines up in such a way that instead of the moon rising 50 or so minutes later each day, this full moon it only rises about 20-30 minutes later, making it seem like this full moon phase lasts longer, providing even a little extra bonus moonlight for the harvest.
(If you want to know more of the astronomical details behind this, check out The Old Farmer’s Almanac.)
If you missed the show Monday night, the moon will remain nearly full Tuesday night. There may be a few more passing clouds Tuesday night but get in a peek then because clouds will be a factor the rest of the week.
And while it’s too early to know yet if clouds will be around when the moon returns full in early November, odds are pretty good for that month’s “Beaver Moon” we may just have to take others’ word for it that it’s there.