October's full moon will peak this weekend, adding a spooky glow to the days leading up to Halloween.
According to StarWalk, the full moon will appear bright and round for several nights, giving stargazers extra time to enjoy its glow from Oct. 25-27.
The full moon won't last until Halloween, however. The last Halloween full moon occurred in 2020, and the next one won't appear until 2039, according to NASA.
Here's everything to know about October's full moon, also known as the Hunter's Moon.
When will October's full moon peak?
The full Hunter’s Moon will reach peak illumination on Oct. 25 at 11:12 p.m. CT, although the best time to watch it rise will be during the evening of Oct. 25, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
Why is October's full moon called the Hunter's Moon?
October's full moon is known as the Hunter's Moon because of
the seasonal transition from harvest time to preparing for winter.
Following September's Harvest Moon, fields were traditionally cleared, leaves had fallen and animals were easier to spot across open landscapes. Deer and other game had also spent the warmer months building fat reserves, making late October a prime time for hunting.
According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the bright full moon provided extra illumination after sunset, allowing hunters to track game later into the evening and gather food supplies for the winter months ahead.
The Hunter's Moon is known by several other names, including the Drying Rice Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, Freezing Moon, Ice Moon and Migrating Moon.
Is the October full moon a supermoon?
No, thenext supermoons will be the Beaver Moon in November 2026 and the Cold Moon in December 2026.
A supermoon occurs when a full or new moon coincides with its closest approach to Earth in its orbit, making it appear slightly larger and brighter than usual.
Will there be a full moon on Halloween 2026?
No, Halloween falls several days after the Hunter's Moon reaches its peak on Oct. 26. By Oct. 31, the moon will be in a waning gibbous phase.
Here's a look atsunset timesacross Middle Tennessee on Oct. 31:
- Murfreesboro: 5:50 p.m.
- Nashville: 5:51 p.m.
- Franklin: 5:52 p.m.
- Clarksville: 5:53 p.m.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Is tonight a full moon? October's Hunter moon peaks this weekend
