THE moon will be late for its own festival this year.

The moon will become full at 4am on Thursday this year, two days after this year's Middle Autumn Festival, which is traditionally based on a full moon, the Labor Daily reported today.

The best time to observe the moon for Shanghai residents will be within the three days following the festival, said the report.

It's rare to see a moon become full three days after the festival, instead of the next day, said some experts.

Experts attributed the situation, which last occurred in 2000, to the late full moon in the eighth month of the Chinese calendar, which fell on the night of September 11.

Tang Haiming, director with a popular science station on Sheshan Mountain, told the newspaper that residents will not be able to differ between the moon tomorrow and the one on Thursday with their naked eyes, or even with the help of a telescope.

Man Liping, the city's chief forecaster, said that tomorrow will be cloudy.