October 2026 Hunter's Moon Reaches Full Illumination on October 26
The October full Moon reaches peak illumination at 12:12 a.m. EDT on October 26, with observers across the United States able to watch it rise around sunset the evening before.
FlyMarshall Newsroom1 min read
Photo: Photo by DAVID GANNON/AFP via Getty Images
The October full Moon reaches peak illumination at 12:12 a.m. EDT (04:12 GMT) on October 26, 2026. In the United States, observers can see it rising around sunset on October 25, though moonrise times depend on location.
Key details
- The October full Moon is commonly known as the Hunter’s Moon in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Cree usage includes the name “Migrating Moon,” associated with birds moving to warmer regions.
- Ojibwe and Haida names include “Freezing Moon,” associated with autumn cooling.
- The Moon can appear yellow or orange near moonrise as its light passes through Earth’s atmosphere.
The Moon reaches full illumination at 12:12 a.m. EDT on October 26, 2026.
Why it matters
The Moon’s apparent size can look larger near the horizon because of a perceptual effect, rather than a change in its actual size. Its color may also appear warmer shortly after rising as the atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths.
What happens next
The full Moon reaches peak illumination on October 26, 2026. Exact moonrise times vary by location.
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