Hunter's Moon 2026: October's Full Moon Peaks at 12:12 a.m. EDT on Oct. 26, With Moonrise Times for 20 Cities
The Hunter's Moon is full at 12:12 a.m. EDT Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, or 9:12 p.m. PDT Sunday. Moonrise times for 20 U.S. cities and the next full moons.
In this article
October’s full moon, the Hunter’s Moon, is full at 12:12 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO). Everywhere west of the Eastern time zone, that moment falls on Sunday evening, Oct. 25, which makes Sunday the night to watch the moon come up in the east around sunset.
When the moon is full, by time zone
| Time zone | Full moon |
|---|---|
| Eastern (EDT) | 12:12 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26 |
| Central (CDT) | 11:12 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 |
| Mountain (MDT) | 10:12 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 |
| Arizona (MST) | 9:12 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 |
| Pacific (PDT) | 9:12 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 |
| Alaska (AKDT) | 8:12 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 |
| Hawaii (HST) | 6:12 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 |
The full moon is a single instant, 04:12 Coordinated Universal Time. To the eye, the moon looks full for about a day on either side of it.
Moonrise on Sunday and Monday
| City | Moonrise Sun., Oct. 25 | Moonrise Mon., Oct. 26 | Sunset Sun., Oct. 25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 5:26 p.m. | 5:58 p.m. | 6:01 p.m. |
| Boston | 5:11 p.m. | 5:42 p.m. | 5:47 p.m. |
| Washington, D.C. | 5:42 p.m. | 6:16 p.m. | 6:16 p.m. |
| Atlanta | 6:21 p.m. | 6:59 p.m. | 6:52 p.m. |
| Miami | 6:16 p.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:44 p.m. |
| Chicago | 5:19 p.m. | 5:51 p.m. | 5:54 p.m. |
| Dallas | 6:14 p.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 6:43 p.m. |
| Houston | 6:12 p.m. | 6:53 p.m. | 6:41 p.m. |
| Denver | 5:35 p.m. | 6:08 p.m. | 6:06 p.m. |
| Phoenix | 5:15 p.m. | 5:53 p.m. | 5:43 p.m. |
| Seattle | 5:27 p.m. | 5:54 p.m. | 6:03 p.m. |
| San Francisco | 5:50 p.m. | 6:25 p.m. | 6:19 p.m. |
| Los Angeles | 5:39 p.m. | 6:17 p.m. | 6:07 p.m. |
Local times for each city center, from USNO rise and set data. The printable below covers 20 cities.
On Sunday the moon clears the horizon before or right at sunset in most cities, so it appears low, large-looking and orange-tinted in twilight. That color comes from sunlight passing through more of Earth’s atmosphere near the horizon; the size is an illusion, since the moon is no closer when it is low.
Why it is called the Hunter’s Moon
The Hunter’s Moon is the first full moon after the Harvest Moon, which was full on Sept. 26 this year. The Old Farmer’s Almanac describes the name as marking the seasonal shift from gathering crops to preparing meat for winter. The almanac also lists Native American names for October’s moon, including the Falling Leaves Moon (Anishinaabe), the Migrating Moon (Cree) and the Drying Rice Moon (Dakota).
Like the Harvest Moon, it rises at a similar time on several evenings in a row at northern latitudes. In New York, moonrise is only 32 minutes later on Monday than on Sunday, compared with the average gap of about 50 minutes between moonrises.
No full moon on Halloween
By Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31, the moon has waned to about 63% lit. It rises around 11 p.m. in most U.S. cities: 10:59 p.m. in New York, 10:52 p.m. in Chicago and 11:24 p.m. in Los Angeles. Trick-or-treating, on the last evening before clocks fall back on Nov. 1, will be dark; see our Halloween sunset times.
The next full moons
| Name | Date | Time (Eastern) |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Moon | Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2026 | 9:53 a.m. EST |
| Cold Moon | Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2026 | 8:28 p.m. EST |
The Cold Moon rises in New York on Dec. 23 at 3:58 p.m. and is still 99% lit on Christmas Eve. For every full moon of next year, see our 2027 moon phases calendar.
Other sky events this week
The Orionid meteor shower peaks the night of Oct. 21-22, while the moon is still waxing; our Orionid guide explains how to watch after moonset. The Taurids and Leonids follow in November; see November meteor showers.
Mark the dates on our October, November and December printable calendars, and print the moon phase calendar below.
Free printable downloads
Every template is free, needs no sign-up and prints on US Letter paper. Choose PDF for printing or PNG for screens and documents.
Moon printable
Hunter's Moon 2026 Moon Phase Calendar
Daily moon phases from Oct. 18 to Nov. 28, 2026, the full moon time in each U.S. time zone and moonrise times for 20 cities on Oct. 25 and 26.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the full moon on Oct. 26, 2026?
12:12 a.m. EDT on Monday, Oct. 26, which is 04:12 Coordinated Universal Time. In the Central, Mountain and Pacific time zones the moment falls on Sunday evening, Oct. 25.
Which night is best to see the Hunter's Moon?
Sunday, Oct. 25. The moon rises in the east around sunset and is full a few hours later. Monday evening, Oct. 26, is nearly as good, with the moon 99% lit and rising about half an hour later.
Why is it called the Hunter's Moon?
It is the full moon after the Harvest Moon. The Old Farmer's Almanac says the name reflects the seasonal shift from gathering crops to preparing meat for winter.
Will there be a full moon on Halloween 2026?
No. On Saturday, Oct. 31, the moon is a waning gibbous, about 63% lit, and it does not rise until about 11 p.m. in most U.S. cities.
When is the next full moon after the Hunter's Moon?
The Beaver Moon is full at 9:53 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2026. The Cold Moon follows at 8:28 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Dec. 23.
Sources
- Phases of the Moon (API data, October-December 2026) (U.S. Naval Observatory, Astronomical Applications Department)
- Sun and Moon Rise/Set/Transit Times for One Day (U.S. Naval Observatory, Astronomical Applications Department)
- Full Hunter's Moon October 2026: Date, Meaning, and Folklore (The Old Farmer's Almanac)
