What is the Hunter’s Moon in October?
The Hunter's Moon is trending because it reached 100% illumination in the early hours of October 26. It is a seasonal event often accompanied by a reddish-orange glow during moonrise.
What happened
- Earlier
The Orionid meteor shower peaked, though clouds blocked views in some areas [1].
- 25 Oct, Sunset
The moon began rising in the eastern sky for viewers in the U.S. [2].
- 26 Oct, 00:11 - 00:12 UTC
The moon reached peak illumination [1], [2].
What you need to know
The moon may appear orange-red when rising low on the horizon [1].
It will still look full through Tuesday before entering a waning gibbous phase [1].
The 'Moon Effect' can make the lunar disk seem larger when it is near the ground [2].
The moon's surface 'seas' and reflective streaks from craters are visible during this phase [2].
The sources do not specify the exact weather conditions for all global viewing locations.
Background
The name Hunter's Moon comes from the tradition of hunting game for winter stores after the September Harvest Moon [1], [2]. The Old Farmer's Almanac notes that the bright light helped hunters track animals longer into the night [1].
Indigenous North American groups have different names for this event, including the Freezing Moon, Migrating Moon, Drying Rice Moon, and Falling Leaves Moon [1], [2].
Questions people ask
Why does the moon look orange?
Blue light wavelengths are scattered as the moon's light passes through Earth's atmosphere at an angle during moonrise [2].
Is this a supermoon?
No, but two supermoons are expected later in 2026 on November 24 and December 23 [1].
Where this came from
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.