Hunter's Moon peaks October 26: best time to watch it
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- The Hunter's Moon peaks Monday, October 26, at 12:12 in the morning ET.
- Sunday evening, October 25, is the best time to watch it.
- October's full moon is called the Hunter's Moon because it marked hunting season before winter.
The October full moon is almost here. It peaks on Monday, October 26. Sunday night is your best chance to see it.
This full moon is called the Hunter's Moon. Searches for the best time to see it spiked in Britain this week. Here is the full answer.
What happened
October's full moon arrives next week. It will peak at 12:12 in the morning, Eastern Time, on Monday, October 26, according to the Farmer's Almanac, as reported by USA Today. That is the exact moment the moon is at its fullest.
It is the 11th full moon of 2026, according to timeanddate. A full moon is the only phase when the moon stays up all night. It rises near the eastern horizon around sunset and sets near the western horizon around sunrise.
The peak comes at night in the United States. Sunday evening, October 25, gives the best view, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. The moon will look full and bright all through Sunday night.
It will look nearly full on the evenings right before and after the peak too. You do not need a telescope. The Old Farmer's Almanac says to find a spot with a clear view of the eastern horizon, then look up around sunset.
The moon can seem huge when it sits low near the horizon. There is a real reason the moon looks bigger near the horizon.
Why it is called the Hunter's Moon
October's full moon is called the Hunter's Moon because it fell in hunting season. Long ago, October was the time to prepare for winter. The crops were already harvested, and the leaves had fallen from the trees.
Hunters could see animals clearly across the open fields. People prepared meat for the cold months ahead, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
It is not the same as the Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox. This year that fell in September, so October's full moon gets the Hunter's name, according to USA Today.
The October full moon has other old names too. Many come from Indigenous cultures in North America. The Dakota people called it the Drying Rice Moon, for preparing rice for winter after the harvest.
The Anishinaabe called it the Falling Leaves Moon. The Ojibwe called it the Freezing Moon. The Cree called it the Migrating Moon, for the birds flying south, according to USA Today.
Do not expect a full moon on Halloween this year. The Hunter's Moon will be just past full by October 31. A Halloween full moon will not return until 2039, according to NASA, as reported by USA Today.
What happens next
Two full moons remain in 2026 after this one. The Beaver Moon arrives on November 24, and the Cold Moon arrives on December 23. Both are supermoons, so they will look a little larger than usual, according to USA Today.
Before the Hunter's Moon peaks, watch for a bonus show. On October 24 and 25, the almost-full moon passes close to Saturn. The pair will be up nearly all night, according to timeanddate.
When the Hunter's Moon is at its fullest, it will sit in the constellation Aries. On October 27 and 28, the young full moon meets the Pleiades star cluster. In some places the moon will pass right in front of the stars, and in other places it will just come very close, according to timeanddate.
A pair of binoculars can help you spot the cluster near the bright moon. The full moon is a good target for beginners. It is bright and easy to find.
We always see the same side of the moon because of how it spins. That is why every full moon looks familiar. So mark Sunday night, October 25.
Step outside around sunset. Look toward the eastern horizon. The Hunter's Moon will be waiting for you.
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