The Harvest Supermoon Rises Tonight and It’s Going to Be Huge
Grab a blanket, step outside, and look east. Tonight, October 6, the first supermoon of 2025 will rise, and it's not just any full moon.
A Rare Celestial Treat Lights Up October's Sky
Tonight, the Harvest Moon will stand out as the biggest and brightest of the year, marking the first of three supermoons in 2025. Whether you're an avid stargazer or love a peaceful evening under the stars, this is one sight you won't want to miss.
Why This Supermoon Feels So Massive
A supermoon occurs when the moon reaches its full phase while positioned unusually close to Earth in its orbit, a point known as perigee. At this distance, the moon can appear up to 14 percent larger and nearly 30 percent brighter than when it is farthest away.
This alignment of the sun, Earth, and moon — a configuration astronomers refer to as syzygy — creates an exceptionally vivid display. Under clear skies, the illumination is strong enough to cast defined shadows and bathe the landscape in a silvery glow.
The Harvest Moon's Old-World Origins
The term "Harvest Moon" traces back to centuries of agricultural life, when the rhythm of the seasons governed human survival. This particular full moon occurs closest to the autumn equinox, when farmers once depended on its steady light to continue harvesting after sunset. Unlike most full moons, which rise roughly 50 minutes later each night, the Harvest Moon rises only about 20 to 30 minutes later, providing several evenings of extended twilight.
Its soft golden light near the horizon has long carried symbolic weight, inspiring songs, paintings, and folklore across cultures. Even now, that same light draws families, skywatchers, and photographers outdoors to witness a celestial tradition that connects past and present under the same enduring glow.
What to Expect When You Look Up
The Harvest Supermoon will reach peak brightness around 11:48 pm Eastern Time. But the view will be spectacular as soon as it rises around 6:00 pm in most parts of the U.S.
As the Harvest Moon rises above the horizon, it often takes on a deep orange or copper hue. This coloration is not a trick of the light but the result of physics at work. When the moon is low in the sky, its light must travel through a thicker layer of Earth's atmosphere. Shorter blue wavelengths scatter along the way, allowing the longer red and gold tones to dominate. As the moon ascends higher, the effect fades, and its surface returns to a bright, silvery white.
If it appears unusually large, that perception comes from what astronomers call the moon illusion. Our eyes judge the moon's size in relation to nearby landmarks such as trees, hills, or buildings. In truth, its apparent size does not change. The effect is purely psychological. A fascinating reminder of how the mind interprets what the sky presents.
The Sky Has More in Store
Although the Harvest Supermoon takes center stage tonight, it shares the heavens with two annual meteor showers. The Draconids are the first to appear, peaking between October 6 and 10, their slow-moving meteors tracing paths through the northern sky. Later in the month, the Orionids emerge, reaching their peak around October 21 as Earth encounters dust and debris left behind by Halley's Comet.
The brilliance of the full moon may wash out some of the Draconids' subtler trails. However, the Orionids should offer clearer viewing once the moon wanes and the skies darken. For the best experience, seek out an open area away from city lights and allow your eyes time to adjust to the natural darkness.
How to Watch Like a Pro
Observing a supermoon is one of the simplest joys in amateur astronomy. Yet, it rewards those who take a few moments to prepare. A little planning can make the difference between a passing glance and a truly memorable viewing experience.
Choose an open eastern horizon and step outside shortly after sunset. The moment the moon clears the horizon is often its most striking, framed by the colors of twilight.
Use binoculars or a telescope to study the surface in detail. Even modest optics will reveal craters, highlands, and the contrasting dark plains known as maria.
Limit artificial light nearby so your eyes can fully adjust to the darkness. Subtle tones and surface contrasts become more apparent once your night vision adapts.
Include the landscape in your view or photographs. Trees, hills, or distant buildings can lend a sense of scale that emphasizes the moon's apparent size.
Observe over several nights. The moon remains nearly full for days, offering slightly different lighting angles and atmospheric conditions with each rise.
NASA also encourages participation in International Observe the Moon Night, a global event dedicated to celebrating our nearest celestial neighbor. Whether you join a local gathering, host a small viewing party, or just step into your backyard, the experience offers a moment of shared wonder beneath the same luminous sky.
The Year of the Supermoon Trio
The Harvest Moon marks the first in a sequence of three consecutive supermoons that will grace the skies in 2025. Astronomers expect the next two to appear in November and December, forming a rare lunar trio to wrap up the year.
Tonight's supermoon offers a rare chance to see the moon at its brightest and most commanding. Step outside, look east, and take in one of the year's most striking astronomical sights.