THE RUNDOWN
October’s full Moon will rise tonight, Monday, October 26, 2026. It rises in proximity to Saturn, and the ringed planet will be more visible than usual, appearing as a bright dot next to the Moon.
The October Moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon, as it was traditionally when people in the Northern Hemisphere would be hunting and gathering in preparation for the upcoming winter.
The full moon will reach peak brightness after sunset at 7:16pm AEDT, but will look largest as it rises at 5:22 pm AEDT, thanks to the ‘moon illusion.’
October is drawing to a close with a full moon set to rise just as Halloween aproaches. Tonight, Monday October 26, the Hunter’s full moon will appear in all its full glory, rising from 5:22pm AEDT onwards around the country. Thanks to daylight savings, the Moon won’t be brighest as it rises. Instead, we’ll have to wait for the sun to bid adieu before we’ll be able to fully take it all in.
“The October full Moon is typically called the Hunter’s Moon, because in the Northern Hemisphere, that’s when people would traditionally be hunting and slaughtering in preparation for their upcoming winter,” explains radio astronomer Dr Laura Driessen. Though this month’s full Moon (sadly) won’t rise on Halloween, not all hope is lost — the Moon will rise with a cameo from Saturn. “This month in general is a good time to get out your telescope or binoculars and check out Saturn,” Driessen says. “Since Saturn is close to the Moon, it makes it easier to work out which dot it is. You’ll want to look out for a bright dot near the Moon that’s not flickering. Stars twinkle, planets don’t.”
Because Saturn is at opposition — which means it’ll be big and bright — the rings will be more visible than usual. “If you do have the equipment to check it out, it’s going to look great,” Driessen says.
When Can I See The October Full Moon Tonigh In Australia?
On Monday, October 26, 2026 the Hunter’s Moon will rise at 6:22pm AEDT, but it will be most visible after the Sun goes down around 7:16pm AEDT. Contrary to popular belief, the best time to see the full moon isn’t when it’s at peak illumination (brightest), but instead when it first rises. “The Moon illusion means that spotting the full Moon when it’s close to the horizon is always very impressive,” Driessen says. The Moon is always closest to the horizon when it first rises, so consult the table below for exactly what time you can expect the Moon to rise in each city around Australia.
CityMonday sunsetMonday moonriseSydney7:16pm AEDT6:22pm AEDTMelbourne7:47pm AEDT6:53pm AEDTCanberra7:26pm AEDT6:32pm AEDTHobart7:45pm AEDT6:51pm AEDTBrisbane6:01pm AEST5:07pm AEST Adelaide7:38pm ACDT6:46pm ACDTPerth6:35pm AWST5:47pm AWSTDarwin6:45pm ACST5:54pm ACST
What Is The Meaning Of The Hunter’s Moon?
The Hunter’s Moon comes after last month’s Harvest Moon, and according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, it’s symbolic of an ideal time for hunting and preparing meat ahead of tough winters in the Northern Hemisphere.
In Native American tradition, the Hunter’s Moon falls after last month’s harvesting and clearing of fields, which means animals (often a little plumper after a season of grazing — we’ve all been there) were easier to spot and therefore, easier to hunt. The Moon rising shortly after sunset meant hunters had slightly longer to spot animals, giving them the chance to hunt and preserve enough meat to sustain them for the season ahead. Dakota tradition calls the Hunter’s Moon the Drying Rice Moon, while Ojibwe and Haida tribes refer to it as the Freezing or Ice Moon, referencing the colder temperatures this particular full moon coincides with.
Image: Getty
Does The Full Hunter’s Moon Have A Spiritual Meaning?
The Hunter’s Moon focuses on preparing the pantry and freezers for winter, and spiritually, it’s not dissimilar. From Native American to Celtic tradition, this time of year focuses on taking stock of your life and preparing yourself for what’s to come, whether that means actioning something you’ve been procrastinating on for a while or carving out time to dedicate to some self-care — self-preservation is important too.
Is It A Full Moon Tonight?
Yes! You’ll be able to observe the October full moon at peak illumination tonight, Monday, October 26, 20. The moon will look largest as it rises at 5:22pm AEDT, and brightest following sunset around 7:16pm AEDT.
Fashion Contributor
Noni Reginato
Noni Reginato is a freelance writer, journalist and word enthusiast. She took ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ a little too literally in her youth and pursued a career in magazines, working across print and digital for Vogue Australia, GQ, Vogue Living, InStyle Australia, Cosmopolitan Australia and T: The New York Times Style Magazine Australia. Her writing traverses fashion, culture, wellness and lifestyle, but really, she’s fascinated by anything zeitgeisty. She contributes to ELLE and marie claire Australia and writes a weekly Substack titled Refer To Instructions.
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