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Zijin Mountain Observatory reports rare full moon for 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival
The 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival will feature a rare astronomical occurrence where the moon reaches its fullest phase on the 17th day of the lunar month rather than the traditional 15th. According to the Zijin Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the peak full moon will occur in the early morning of September 27, 2026.
Wang Kechao, head of science popularization at the observatory, noted that this phenomenon is relatively rare. Statistical data from 2001 to 2100 indicates that while the full moon falls on the 16th day of the lunar month 48 times, it only falls on the 17th day 14 times, representing a 14% probability.
The variation in the timing of the full moon is caused by the Moon's elliptical orbit around Earth, which results in fluctuating orbital speeds. This causes the interval between the new moon and the full moon to vary between 13.90 and 15.61 days.
Entities
Chinese Academy of Sciences · Wang Kechao · Zijin Mountain Observatory
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Between 2001 and 2100, the full moon falls on the 16th day of the lunar month 48 times. cafebiz.vn · kenh14.vn · soha.vn
- [● 3 SOURCES] The most full moon during the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival will occur in the early morning of September 27. cafebiz.vn · kenh14.vn · soha.vn
- [● 3 SOURCES] The duration from the new moon to the full moon can range from 13.90 to 15.61 days. cafebiz.vn · kenh14.vn · soha.vn
- [● 3 SOURCES] The probability of the full moon falling on the 17th day of the lunar month during the Mid-Autumn period is approximately 14%. cafebiz.vn · kenh14.vn · soha.vn