The Hunter's Moon rises this weekend, making it a great time to get out and see a beautiful autumn full Moon in the night sky.
And while the 2026 Hunter's Moon doesn't technically rise until Sunday 25 October, by Friday and Saturday night the Moon will be nearly full, meaning a big bright Moon will be our nighttime guide over the next few nights.
Here we'll give you key timings for the rise of the Hunter's Moon across the world's major cities, plus some tips on how to make the most of it.
More on the full Moon
Why Hunter's Moon?
Each of the monthly full Moons has acquired more than a few full Moon nicknames over the centuries.
Before the advent of artificial lighting, the full Moon would have been a welcome sight in the night sky, providing a valuable source of light after dark.
As a result, each of the monthly full Moons came to represent major events occurring in nature throughout the year.
In October, hunters would have traditionally been gathering food for the long, cold months ahead.
And the full Moon may have been an important source of light during the darker autumn months, enabling hunters to find their way even at night.
For this reason, the October full Moon became known as the Hunter's Moon.
Why full Moon rises at sunset
Full Moons rise at sunset. The reason for this is because full Moons occur when the Moon is opposite the Sun in our sky.
Indeed, that's why it's a 'full' Moon. The whole of the Earth-facing side of the Moon is facing the Sun, so the whole of that side of the Moon is basked in sunlight.
And because the Moon is opposite the Sun in sky, it appears to mirror the path of the Sun across the daytime sky.
So, just as the Sun is setting in the west, the full Moon is rising in the east.
How and when to see the Hunter's Moon 2026
Here's a quick guide to seeing the Hunter's Moon this weekend.
At sunset, find a clear, flat eastern or southeastern horizon and you'll be able to see the Hunter's Moon rise.
By late evening and close to midnight, the Hunter's Moon will be high in the south.
After midnight and close to sunset the following morning, the Hunter's Moon will be setting in the west: a clear, flat western horizon will enable you to see it set.
If you catch the full Moon rising above the horizon, it may look bigger and more orange than usual!
Watch it track across the southern sky (if you're in the Northern Hemisphere) or northern sky (if you're in the Southern Hemisphere).
If you're observing on Friday or Saturday, 23–24 October, look out for planet Saturn near the Hunter's Moon.
As it's the weekend, you might want to stay up to watch it set in the west before dawn.
Hunter's Moon 2026 key rise times
| Region | City | Rise time |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | London | 16:01 UTC |
| Edinburgh | 16:00 UTC | |
| Cardiff | 16:12 UTC | |
| Dublin | 16:19 UTC | |
| Belfast | 16:14 UTC | |
| Paris | 16:56 CET | |
| Berlin | 16:02 CET | |
| Madrid | 17:40 CET | |
| Americas | New York | 17:27 EST |
| Los Angeles | 17:40 PDT | |
| Toronto | 17:42 EST | |
| Mexico City | 17:40 CST | |
| Sao Paulo | 17:56 BRT | |
| Buenos Aires | 19:01 ART | |
| Middle East / Asia | Dubai | 17:00 GST |
| New Delhi | 16:54 IST | |
| Tokyo | 16:02 JST | |
| Oceania | Sydney | 18:22 AEDT |
| Auckland | 18:45 NZDT | |
| Africa | Johannesburg | 17:47 SAST |
| Cairo | 17:31 EEST | |
| Nairobi | 17:42 EAT | |
| Yaoundé | 17:24 WAT |
Share your images, observations, sketches, drawings and poems about the Harvest Moon with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
