Sky-gazers will be able to enjoy October’s dazzling full moon — known as a harvest moon — at peak illumination early next week. And it’s not just any full moon; it will be a supermoon, which is when it’s at its closest point to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter. (Harvest moon + a supermoon = a super harvest moon.)
For those in North America, the super harvest moon will start Monday night and go into early Tuesday, just ahead of next week’s peak of the Draconid meteor shower and a few weeks ahead of the peak of the Orionid meteor shower.
Even if viewers are in a big city with lots of lights, they can still see the moon’s brilliance overnight Monday into Tuesday.
An open field or an elevated location with an unobstructed view facing the eastern horizon are the best spots for viewing the moon as it rises. Sky-gazers will be able to see the full moon with the naked eye, but binoculars or a telescope will allow them to see the details of the lunar surface.
Here’s when to see the super harvest moon, and the forecasted cloud cover in the U.S.:
When will the harvest moon be at its peak?
The harvest moon will be visible starting Monday night, Oct. 6, into the early hours of Tuesday morning on Oct. 7. The moon will be at its fullest at 11:47 p.m. ET on Monday, as indicated by the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
What will the cloud cover look like early next week?
Cloud cover could potentially impact your view, depending on where you’re planning to see the full moon. The map below from the National Weather Service shows the forecasted cloud cover at 2 a.m. ET on Oct. 7. The areas shaded in gray are expected to have greater cloud cover.
The cloud cover forecast for the U.S. on Oct. 7 at 2 a.m. ET. (National Weather Service)
Why is it called a harvest moon, anyway?
Each of the full moons in the calendar year has a name. They are specific to the U.S., because their names come from “Native American, Colonial American, and European sources,” according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
While the harvest moon is most often associated with a September full moon, in 2025, the month of October takes the harvest moon name. That’s because this year’s full moon on Oct. 6 is closer to the autumnal equinox (Sept. 22) than September’s full moon (Sept. 7).
The harvest moon will rise at around the same time for several nights, providing longer evening light. “Historically, this extra illumination helped farmers complete their harvests before fall frosts,” the Old Farmer’s Almanac explains.
What are the phases of the moon?
The moon’s cycle lasts for 29.5 days and goes through eight phases during that time: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter and waning crescent.
The harvest moon is also considered a supermoon, designated as such when the moon is at its closest distance from Earth. It’s the exact opposite of a “micromoon,” which occurs when the moon is at its farthest distance away from Earth.
How many more full moons will we see this year?
After October, there will be two more full moons this year, in November and December. Here’s the list of remaining moons in 2025, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac:
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