The Hunter’s Moon rises this weekend, making it a great time to get out and see a beautiful autumn full Moon in the night sky.
And while the 2026 Hunter’s Moon doesn’t technically rise until Sunday 25 October, by Friday and Saturday night the Moon will be nearly full, meaning a big bright Moon will be our nighttime guide over the next few nights.
Here we’ll give you key timings for the rise of the Hunter’s Moon across the world’s major cities, plus some tips on how to make the most of it.
Credit: Manuel Breva Colmeiro / Getty Images
Why Hunter’s Moon?
Each of the monthly full Moons has acquired more than a few full Moon nicknames over the centuries.
Before the advent of artificial lighting, the full Moon would have been a welcome sight in the night sky, providing a valuable source of light after dark.
As a result, each of the monthly full Moons came to represent major events occurring in nature throughout the year.
In October, hunters would have traditionally been gathering food for the long, cold months ahead.
And the full Moon may have been an important source of light during the darker autumn months, enabling hunters to find their way even at night.
For this reason, the October full Moon became known as the Hunter’s Moon.
The brightness of the October full Moon would have been invaluable to hunters in days gone by. Credit: Benkrut / Getty Images
Why full Moon rises at sunset
Full Moons rise at sunset. The reason for this is because full Moons occur when the Moon is opposite the Sun in our sky.
Indeed, that’s why it’s a ‘full’ Moon. The whole of the Earth-facing side of the Moon is facing the Sun, so the whole of that side of the Moon is basked in sunlight.
And because the Moon is opposite the Sun in sky, it appears to mirror the path of the Sun across the daytime sky.
So, just as the Sun is setting in the west, the full Moon is rising in the east.
How and when to see the Hunter’s Moon 2026
Here’s a quick guide to seeing the Hunter’s Moon this weekend.
At sunset, find a clear, flat eastern or southeastern horizon and you’ll be able to see the Hunter’s Moon rise.
By late evening and close to midnight, the Hunter’s Moon will be high in the south.
After midnight and close to sunset the following morning, the Hunter’s Moon will be setting in the west: a clear, flat western horizon will enable you to see it set.
If you catch the full Moon rising above the horizon, it may look bigger and more orange than usual!
Watch it track across the southern sky (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere) or northern sky (if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere).
If you’re observing on Friday or Saturday, 23–24 October, look out for planet Saturn near the Hunter’s Moon.
As it’s the weekend, you might want to stay up to watch it set in the west before dawn.
Hunter’s Moon 2026 key rise times
Region
City
Rise time
Europe
London
16:01 UTC
Edinburgh
16:00 UTC
Cardiff
16:12 UTC
Dublin
16:19 UTC
Belfast
16:14 UTC
Paris
16:56 CET
Berlin
16:02 CET
Madrid
17:40 CET
Americas
New York
17:27 EST
Los Angeles
17:40 PDT
Toronto
17:42 EST
Mexico City
17:40 CST
Sao Paulo
17:56 BRT
Buenos Aires
19:01 ART
Middle East / Asia
Dubai
17:00 GST
New Delhi
16:54 IST
Tokyo
16:02 JST
Oceania
Sydney
18:22 AEDT
Auckland
18:45 NZDT
Africa
Johannesburg
17:47 SAST
Cairo
17:31 EEST
Nairobi
17:42 EAT
Yaoundé
17:24 WAT
Key timings for the Hunter’s Moon 2026 for cities across the world
Share your images, observations, sketches, drawings and poems about the Harvest Moon with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com