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The supermoon can appear up to 30% brighter and 14% larger than the faintest moon of the year, according to NASA.
WASHINGTON — October’s full moon, also called the harvest moon, will happen Monday night. It’s also a supermoon, meaning it will be bigger and brighter than usual in the night sky.
October’s supermoon is the first of three this year. It happens when a full moon is closer to Earth in its orbit. That makes the moon look up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year, according to NASA.
What time is the supermoon?
The full moon will be Monday night, Oct. 6, 2025, around 11:48 p.m. Eastern, according to EarthSky.
The Draconid meteor shower is also set to begin Monday, with its peak happening around Wednesday, Oct. 8. However, the bright supermoon could make it tougher to see this year.
What is the harvest moon?
The harvest moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. This year, the equinox fell on September 22.
According to NASA, the term dates back to before electricity, when farmers depended on the moon’s natural light to harvest their crops late into the night. The full moon was particularly important at the beginning of fall, when harvests are the largest.
When is the next supermoon?
There will be four consecutive supermoons – three to wrap up the year starting in October and one in January 2026.
According to Almanac.com, the beaver moon in November will be the closest to Earth, at about 221,817 miles away. The harvest moon will be roughly 224,600 miles from Earth.
Scientists point out that only the keenest observers can discern the subtle differences. It’s easier to detect the change in brightness — a supermoon can be 30% brighter than average.
When’s the next full moon?
If you miss the October full moon on Monday, mark your calendar for the next full moon, which will rise Wednesday, Nov. 5, known as the beaver moon. After that, 2025 will bring the full cold moon on Dec. 4.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
