October's full moon is coming soon, but will it be full on Halloween?
In pop culture, fictional creatures like werewolves and other monsters are often associated with full moons, and some people even believe that paranormal activity increases on the night the moon reaches its peak, according to AccuWeather.
So it isn't surprising that when you're watching a spooky movie to get into the Halloween spirit or searching for Halloween decorations, there might be quite a few nods to the full moon. But the moon follows a cycle, and the day the full moon falls on changes every month and year.
The last time the moon was full on Halloween was in 2020, when many were still in quarantine because of the COVID-19 pandemic, NASA stated. And unfortunately, we won't
get another Halloween full moon for more than a decade.
Here's what to know.
When is October's full moon?
In October, the moon, which is known as the Hunter Moon, will be full and reach its peak less than a week before Halloween on Monday, Oct. 26, at 12:12 a.m. ET, according to the Farmer's Almanac. But the moon will still be mostly full on Halloween if weather permits.
In 2026, the moon will be a waning gibbous and be 68% full on Halloween, according NASA, meaning just over 30% of the moon's face will be covered by Earth's shadow.
When will there be a full moon on Halloween?
NASA said the next Halloween full moon will not happen until Oct. 31, 2039. It's a rare occurrence that happens only every 19 years. Between now and the year 3000, there will be four Halloween full moons in the following years:
- 2039
- 2058
- 2077
- 2096
The rare event will also be a blue moon, which happens when two full moons occur in a single month. This is because the moon's cycle is only around 29.5 days. So, every full moon that falls on Halloween will also be a blue moon.
It may seem like a long wait, but in 2031, five years from 2026, the full moon will fall on Thursday, Oct. 30, according to NASA. While it won't be on Halloween, the moon will still appear full when people are out trick-or-treating the following night.
Why is this year's October full moon called the Hunter Moon?
In 2026, October's full moon is known as the Hunter Moon.
The name has traditionally been associated with the time of year when people prepared for winter by hunting after the harvest.
The moon is also known by the following names, according to AccuWeather:
- Dying Grass Moon
- Travel Moon
- Sanguine Moon
- Waking Moon
But sometimes, October's moon is known as the Harvest Moon. Its name depends on when the Autumnal Equinox falls. The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the equinox, so it can fall in either September or October. In 2026, the Harvest Moon occurred in September, making October's full moon the Hunter Moon.
Full moons remaining in 2026
After October's Hunter Moon, two full moons remain on the 2026 calendar:
- Beaver Moon (supermoon): Peaks Nov. 24 at 9:53 a.m. ET
- Cold Moon (supermoon): Peaks Dec. 23 at 8:28 p.m. ET
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A Halloween full moon would be extra spooky. Will it happen this year?
