What to Know About Tonight’s Full Moon

Is there a full moon tonight?

The Moon is nearly full on Sunday, October 25, 2026. A report dated October 24 described it as waxing gibbous, the phase when more than half of the Moon's visible face is lit but it is not yet full. That report put the illuminated portion at 95% ¹.

The exact moment of full phase is listed as 12:11 a.m. Eastern time on October 26 ⁴. Depending on your timezone, that moment may fall on October 25 or October 26 on the calendar ¹².

When does the October 2026 full moon happen?

The Moon becomes full at 12:11 a.m. ET on October 26, according to the supplied report ⁴. That is a precise moment, rather than a claim that the Moon looks full for only one instant. To find the local calendar date, use an official astronomical phase calendar or a reliable local astronomy resource; the sources provided do not give times for every timezone.

Where can I see the Moon tonight?

Look for the Moon from a place where you have a clear view of the sky. Whether it is visible from a particular spot tonight depends on local conditions, including cloud cover and the Moon's position relative to the horizon. The supplied sources do not provide a city-by-city rise time, direction, or weather forecast.

You do not need special equipment to appreciate the bright, nearly full Moon. The October 24 report says several broad lunar features may be visible without visual aids, while binoculars or a telescope can reveal additional surface details ¹.

What will the Moon look like?

On October 25, expect a round-looking Moon that is almost, but not quite, full. The October 24 report identified it as waxing gibbous and estimated that 95% of its visible surface was illuminated ¹. The small unlit portion may be difficult to notice without comparing it with a full Moon.

That same report names Mare Imbrium, Mare Serenitatis, and Mare Fecunditatis as features that may be spotted without visual aids. Binoculars and telescopes can show more details, but what you can make out depends on viewing conditions and equipment ¹.

Why does the Moon change phase?

The Moon does not produce its own visible light. As it travels around Earth, sunlight illuminates different portions of the side facing us. The changing amount we see is what creates the familiar phases, from crescent to full and back again ¹².

The sources describe the Moon's cycle as taking about 29.5 days ¹². A full Moon is the phase when the face turned toward Earth is fully illuminated.

What is the Hunter’s Moon?

One source calls this October full Moon the Hunter's Moon ⁴. That name is a traditional label, not a different astronomical phase: the Moon still becomes full at the time reported above. The source also describes historical seasonal associations, but the material provided does not independently verify those details.