The full Moon on 25 October 2026 will be the year's Hunter's Moon.
It will be near Saturn in the night sky, making for a beautiful naked-eye spectacle of Moon and planet.
Start observing the Moon around 23 October and over the course of a few evenings you'll see it pass by Saturn in the night sky.
By 25 October, the Moon will be full, marking the 2026 Hunter's Moon.
The 25 October Hunter's Moon reaches peak illumination at 03:12 UTC and will rise in the east around sunset, then set the following morning in the west around dawn.
Hunter's Moon explained
Why is this full Moon called the 'Hunter's Moon', and what will it look like?
Each full Moon of the year has attained an informal nickname. You'll hear talk of a Wolf Moon, a Snow Moon, a Worm Moon or a Flower Moon, for example.
In reality, these are just that: nicknames. They don't indicate that a particular full Moon will look any different, and instead reflect cultural and natural activities around the time of year that full Moon is visible.
A Hunter's Moon, for example, is the full Moon at the time of year when hunters would traditionally be most active.
There are a few explanations and theories you'll find if you delve into the subject.
October is the time of year when hunting begins and the bright full Moon provides light so hunters can see their prey.
The Hunter's Moon is the full Moon after harvest, meaning bare fields and fewer places for animals to hide.
Animals are fattened from feeding in preparation for hibernation, so the Hunter's Moon denotes the time of year a hunter's prize would be greatest.
Finally, this when hunters would capture prey to provide meat in store for the cold winter months.
But don't let this fool you. The Hunter's Moon will look much the same as any other full Moon of the year.
Observing the Hunter's Moon
- See if the rising full Moon looks bigger - this is known as the Moon illusion
- Does the rising Moon also look orange or even rusty red?
- While not as favourable as a crescent or gibbous Moon, observe the Moon with binoculars or telescope
- Photograph the Moon with a DSLR camera
- Photograph the Moon with a smartphone
- Get out your paper and pencils and sketch the Moon
- Full Moon is a good time to observe lunar ray ejecta systems
- See if you can spot a halo or arc around the Moon
- See if you can spot a Moonbow
If you observe or photograph the October Hunter's Moon, share your images and observations with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
