The Full Harvest Supermoon in October 2025

When to See the Full Harvest Supermoon in October 2025

The Harvest Moon will reach peak illumination at 11:47 P.M. Eastern Time on Monday, October 6, 2025.

Plus, it’s a supermoon—the very first of 2025—so it’s bigger and brighter than usual! 

→ Want to know the exact time of moonrise in your location? Check out our Moonrise and Moonset Calculator!

First Supermoon of the Year

This is the first of three consecutive supermoons of the year! This means that it will appear bigger and brighter than the full Moons we have seen thus far! Learn about what it means to be a Supermoon.

→ Consult our Moonrise and Moonset Calculator to see precisely when the Sturgeon Moon will be visible in your area!

Why Is It Called the Harvest Moon?

The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred and through all of the Moon’s phases—not only the full Moon. The Harvest Moon, however, is a bit different!

The Harvest Moon

The full Moon that happens nearest to the fall equinox (September 22 or 23) always takes on the name “Harvest Moon.” Unlike other full Moons, this full Moon rises at nearly the same time—around sunset—for several evenings in a row, giving farmers several extra evenings of moonlight and allowing them to finish their harvests before the frosts of fall arrive. Read more about the Harvest Moon!

While September’s full Moon is usually known as the Harvest Moon, if October’s full Moon happens to occur closer to the equinox than September’s (like it is this year), it takes on the name “Harvest Moon” instead. In this case, September’s full Moon is referred to as the Corn Moon.

Why Is It Called the Hunter’s Moon?

When October is not a Harvest Moon, this particular full Moon is commonly referred to as the full Hunter’s Moon. It is so-named because it was considered a signal for hunters to begin hunting in preparation for the upcoming cold winter. At this time, game animals were also fattening up to ready themselves for the winter season. Moreover, since fields had recently been cleared out under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily spot deer and other animals that had come out to search for remaining scraps. Additionally, foxes and wolves would also come out to prey on these animals.

The earliest use of the term “Hunter’s Moon,” cited in the Oxford English Dictionary, is from 1710. Some sources suggest that other names for the Hunter’s Moon are the Sanguine or Blood Moon, either associated with the blood from hunting or the color of the changing autumn leaves. 

Alternative October Moon Names

The names of the Moon are most often related to natural signs of the season or to activities that were done at this time of year. Some of our favorites include:

• Drying Rice Moon, a Dakota name, describes part of the post-harvest process of preparing rice for winter.
• Falling Leaves Moon is an Anishinaabe term highlighting the transition between summer and fall.
• Freezing Moon (Ojibwe) and Ice Moon (Haida) refer to the increasingly cold temperatures of this period.
• Migrating Moon (Cree) refers to when birds begin to fly south to warmer climates.

→ Read more about Full Moon names and meanings.

Moon Phases for October 2025

See all Moon phase dates and times (in Eastern Daylight Time) below. See the Moon Phase Calendar for your location and time zone.

Moon Phases for October 2025

	Full Moon: October 6, 11:47 P.M. EDT
	Last Quarter: October 13, 2:13 P.M. EDT
	New Moon: October 21, 8:25 A.M. EDT
	First Quarter: October 29, 12:21 P.M. EDT

When is the next full Moon? Consult our Full Moon Calendar to find out!

October Full Moon Video 

Each month, we will explain the traditional names of the full Moon along with some fascinating Moon facts. Click below to watch the video.

Best Days in October 2025

Below are some of the best days for certain activities, based on the Moon’s sign and phase in October.

→ See Best Days for more activities.

Moon Folklore

• Corn planted under a waning Moon grows slower but yields larger ears.
• Babies born a day after the full Moon enjoy success and endurance.
• A new Moon in your dreams promises increased wealth or a happy marriage.